Writing More Diverse Characters-The TCI
I absolutely love that Tumblr is moving to create more diverse characters in fiction. But there’s still a lot missing and I want to help writers diversify their writing. Let me introduce to you:
The TCI, or Third Culture Individual, sometimes referred to as the TCK or Third Culture Kid.
A Third Culture Individual is a person who has spent the majority of their developmental years outside of the culture of either of their parents. For the rest of their lives they are known as a TCI.
There are three cultures represented in a TCI: their parent’s culture, the culture of where they now live, and the new culture created, an amalgamation of both combined.
They often speak two or more languages, and can represent their cultures with full authenticity.
They are often extremely adaptable to new cultures and new ways of life.
Someone who speaks two or more languages.
Someone who goes on vacation.
Someone who goes on vacation for an extended period of time.
Someone who has moved within their own country.
Someone who has spent a year studying abroad.
Someone who moves to a different country after they have matured into an adult.
Someone who has lived in another country when they were too young relate to any of the culture or people there.
What does being a TCI mean?
Being a Third Culture Individual is difficult. The TCI has switched cultures, often multiple times, before they can develop their cultural identity.
This leads to a sense of mixed identity: TCIs often feel like they don’t fully belong in any culture, but identify with the cultures they represent.
The difference between cultural identity and race:
Your race is something genetic, something inherited, something you cannot change.
Cultural identity is developed as you do. Non-TCI parents can have TCI kids and vice-versa.
Example: A white person who grows up in Nigeria may identify culturally as Nigerian, but that does not make them black.
Third Culture Individuals are recognized by so few people. This makes it especially hard to identify with anyone. Lack of representation is a major issue.
Common difficulties of the TCI:
Questions like “Where are you from?” are often difficult to answer. I often have to ask “Do you want the long version or the short version?”
People claiming you are not allowed to represent a culture because you are not “from” there.
My rebuttal is this: what defines your "from"?
Is it where you were born? You can spend less than a year in the place you were born, so how can you ever identify with that place?
Is it where your passport says your from? If you’re like me, you have two passports.
Is it where your extended family lives? I have family that lives in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, and Slovakia. And that’s just the family that I keep in touch with.
Is it where you live now? I have lived in the place I live now for less than two years, and don’t have any particular attachments to the geographical location.
Is it where you lived last? If you move around a lot, then this could get pretty dicey.
Is it where you lived longest? Honestly, this one depends. If the years aren’t consecutive, then this isn’t necessarily true.
The only way to really define this “from” is where you spent your developmental years, growing as a person, and it can be multiple places.
TCIS CAN ACCURATELY REPRESENT MULTIPLE CULTURES EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT BIOLOGICALLY LINKED TO THAT CULTURE.
Why should I write a TCI character into my story?
Listen up, friends. A TCI is a great way to break stereotypes. I’m going to list a few examples of people that I’ve met. In real life.Â
A caucasian girl who grew up in Japan, speaks fluent Japanese, and wears a kimono for formal occasions.
A Moroccan woman who slays it every year at the Oktoberfest concerts in Germany.
A ginger with an incredible Cockney accent who is a total cowboy.
An Indian girl who works at a chalet in Austria during the winter while she goes to school in Salzburg and is an incredible skier.Â
A Thai boy who has an unreal Scottish accent and can keep up in Gaelic.
I don’t know about you, but I see a world of potential for a cast of incredibly diverse characters.
Potential Jobs that create TCIs:
Okay, so let’s pretend I’ve convinced you to include a TCI in your story. How do TCIs even happen?Â
The most common reason TCIs exist is because of their parent/s job/s.
The Diplomat-this person’s parent works in politics, either as an ambassador, representing their country in a different one, or working in international politics or organizations.
Examples:Â The Ambassador of Spain in London. Delegate representing China (United Nations). Works for an NGO (Non-governmental organization) like Medicins Sans Frontiers or the Red Cross.Â
The Expatriate-this person’s parent was sent to a different country for their occupation (non-political, non-charitable).
Examples:Â A partner who works for Roche is sent to Basel, Switzerland to manage one of their branches. Volkswagen sends developers to New Zealand to work on a new project.
Boarding School-this person’s parent sent their kid to boarding school. Please, for the love of everything against awful stereotypes DO NOT write about a rich person whose parents sent them to boarding school because they do not love them and don’t care. I have been to plenty of boarding schools and have yet to meet anyone like that. It’s a common stereotype that should be avoided. Kids who get sent to boarding school are often very well-loved by their parents and get to experience amazing things. Most schools have boarders an local students who live at home. They often have the strongest friendships, and because boarding schools are typically small, there’s a family-type feel to them. Everyone knows that Mees doesn’t do his homework, and Pratyusha is the genius.
Examples:Â The International School Schaffhausen near Zurich, Switzerland. The Abdulaziz International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Nomad-this isn’t seen often in real life. At all. I would use it sparingly in realistic fiction. This person takes their family with them, as they wander to a new place, often without a job already set up. They typically don’t have a lot of money, and life can get pretty difficult.
As with writing any character, making them a complete person is the key. The ladies on this blog to an excellent job of helping you out with writing PoCs. You still have to keep this in mind when writing a TCI.
Just because someone is a TCI does not mean they lose their racial identity.
Portraying cultures accurately is also a key aspect to writing a TCI. Please do your research. The best help comes from people who actually live or have lived in the place you want to write about. Don’t be afraid to ask! Most people will love sharing their culture with you.
Blogs on Tumblr with good info on TCIs:
When You’re A Third Culture Kid~A blog dedicated to the problems most TCI’s face in daily life.Â
Saudade~A Blog Dedicated To TCI’s from anywhere and for people who love travel.Â
Third Culture Kid Life~Submitted written work by TCIs on their experiences.
A Third Culture Kid’s Take on the World~A man’s personal blog as he describes his life being a TCI.
Websites with more information:
Third Culture Kid Life~Website run by a TCI man to help explain what being a TCI is all about to parents of TCI kids.
InterNations Magazine~Article on TCIs
Amazon~The best book on TCIs I’ve ever read. Psychology.
For Personal Questions Feel Free to ask me (a TCI) any questions you may have:
A TCI’s Blog ~ Note: this is not a blog dedicated to TCIs or TCI related topics. This is my personal blog but I am willing to help you if I can.
