Women on the move: the self-initiated expatriate in China. Issue 2 (2nd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wolfgang Mayrhofer and Dr B. Sebastian Reiche, Professor; Muir, Melinda; Wallace, Michelle; McMurray, Don
• Is Part Of: Journal of global mobility. Volume 2:Issue 2(2014)
• Page Start: 234
• Page End: 254
• Publication Date: 2014-09-02
• Subjects: Aliens -- Periodicals; Foreign workers -- Periodicals; Labor mobility -- Periodicals; Labor and globalization -- Periodicals; 305.90691
• DOI: 10.1108/JGM-06-2013-0045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2049-8799

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the under-researched phenomenon of women, who of their own volition, are choosing to live and work in another country, as self-initiated expatriates (SIEs). </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – Drawing from a career constructivist position, the qualitative framework relied on primary data gathering through semi-structured interviews with 25 western professional SIE women living and working in Beijing. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – The findings suggest that the SIE women's motivations for mobility and their career types and patterns are complex and varied. As an initial and tentative step towards developing a framework of female SIEs' careers the authors introduce a typology of four career patterns. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title> <p> – As an exploratory piece of research there is limited generalisability since the findings are presented from the perspective of a particular cohort of women's narratives. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Practical implications</title> <p> – There is a need to recognise the potential value of SIEs to MNCs particularly in light of the well-documented concerns regarding human capital. Companies risk losing this potentially valuable employee if the career opportunities, as well as compensation packages, benefits and support on offer, do not match the plans and expectations of the individuals concerned. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – The study provides new insights into the nature and dynamics of the different career modes and configurations of SIE women. This is an important and appropriate research agenda for several reasons. First, there remains a paucity of research on female SIEs. Second, little is known about their career-related behaviours and expectations and the relationship between mobility and career. Thus, it is hoped that a study such as this will add to the emerging body of knowledge about an under researched yet growing number of the some of the most mobile human capital in the world.</p> </sec> </abstract>