Female Expatriate Managers

The rationale of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the factors behind the low ratio of female among expatriate managers of multinational corporations. Although, recently, there is increase in the number of female expatriates as compared to the past. Still the number is negligible as compared to their male counterparts. The study discusses both the corporate perspective and female expatriates' perspective. The reasons for the low ratio of female expatriates according to corporate perspective, are mainly related to the usage of a collection of informal factors. Such factors comprise an unconscious tendency of men choosing other men, male networks, and the fact that expatriate candidates are well known to selectors. Reasons from the female expatriates' perspective are primarily connected to dual-career and family issues, but a lack of female role models, mentoring and networking also seems to contribute to the low ratio of women among expatriate managers of multinational corporations. The study also suggest strategies for female expatriates before, during and after international assignments. At the end, there are case studies of two successful female expatriates.