President Obama and many members of his cabinet are Third Culture Kids. What is a third culture kid? A simplistic definition is one who may or may not share the culture of his or her parents. Having one or more parent of a different culture or growing up in a different cultural environment than one's parents could lead to an outlook on life that varies greatly from one's perceived culture. President Obama fits this category on a number of levels including having a mixed racial heritage, living in Indonesia as an American and so on. See Time.com for about the President's heritage.
Ruth Van Reken, author of the book Third Culture Kids, is one of the premiere researchers on this topic. She believes that experience as a TCK positively influences the President and his cabinet regarding foreign policy. To view the post by Ruth Van Reken, see Third Culture Kid.
For additional information:
Visit: tckid.com and Belong or Bust: Third Culture Kids
Read: Between Cultures: Developing Self-Identity in a World of Diversity.
