4 Misconceptions of Women Abroad

These days, more people are seeking employment opportunities abroad, joining their spouse for a new adventure or pursuing an education in another country. With this trend reaching new heights, we often have InterNations members willing to contribute useful and insightful articles that resonate with expats on different levels. The following article was submitted by an InterNations member, sharing their own personal thoughts, views and tips on life abroad.

When beginning their life abroad, there are various factors that women must consider more than others, such as safety, cultural norms, and employment opportunities. In many places it is often harder for women to find work, and others are often looked down upon for their decision to move to another country, far from home. So, why would they move abroad? Perhaps by correcting these four common misconceptions of women abroad, we will be able to focus on the achievements of expat women and to learn from their experience.

1. Expat women are stay-at-home mums.

Among the respondents of the Expat Insider survey, 21 percent of expats are living abroad with dependent children and 34 percent of traveling spouses are raising children abroad. Evidently, not all expat women are mothers, just like not all expat mums are unemployed or simply living off of their husbands.

Having grown up abroad myself, my mother left her job to begin her expat journey with my dad, an experienced expat who had just been assigned a job in Thailand. Despite popular belief, although some expat mothers do not have full-time jobs, this doesn’t mean that they don’t do anything. Besides household duties and sorting out the basic things we often take for granted, such as education, healthcare, and bills, my mother was very supportive of my sister and me. Though she did not work full time, she homeschooled us in French and was actively involved in our education, volunteering at school and supporting us with our projects. She also enrolled in a degree course, taught extra-curricular French classes at our school and privately tutored many students.

Whether an expat mother is working or not, married or single, the difficulties she faces adjusting to life abroad should not be disregarded. Expat kids depend on their direct family for support, especially while living in an expat community where people often relocate after a couple of years. Without any familiar support nearby, discovering the way around a new country is a challenge in itself.

2. “Trailing spouses” are idle housewives.

The majority of those who move abroad for their partner’s job or education are women and there are certain preconceptions that follow this. For example: all expat spouses quit their jobs and no longer have to work, enjoying a carefree, pampered expat life, with domestic staff taking care of household chores. Although some women may relate to this, for the most part, there is more to traveling spouses than meets the eye.

Among the Expat Insider survey respondents, traveling spouses represent 9% of the survey population. Despite the stereotype, over half of the traveling spouses state that giving up their previous career has been difficult for them, something that is often disregarded. Only 39 percent work part time, and besides, taking care of such everyday tasks as paying bills and finding a suitable doctor abroad is often much more complicated to do than back home.

Some advice from an experienced expat woman: “Make sure your partner knows your expectations, and agree how you will help each other — do not assume responsibility for everything to do with the house or help”.

3. Life abroad doesn’t offer any particular benefits for women.

Whether you move with your partner or on your own, the decision to move abroad is a difficult one and the most important first step to your new expat life. Many expats think that the perception others have of their new home country is often ignorant and uninformed. As many associate expats with either businessmen or travelling spouses, very few view any benefits for a woman abroad except a lifestyle of luxury.

Rebecca Mayston, a New Zealander and InterNations Ambassador in Oman, says that “many people struggle with the idea of a woman being independent, living and working abroad, but I find it very liberating. They judge my decision for living here based on what they see in the media, but I have been given much better opportunities here than I would have been able to have at home”.

Despite the various challenges faced by women living abroad, there is no better way to gain confidence and independence than to travel, discover a new country and its culture, and to figure out what you want. Not only do you learn how resourceful you are, your experience will boost your confidence like nothing else.

4. Finding work abroad is easy for women.

There are challenges when it comes to finding work abroad for both men and women. However, certain cultural differences occasionally make it harder for the latter.

Simone, a well-traveled expat, struggled to find legal work in Egypt, Libya, and India. “In Egypt”, she states, “I had ‘not permitted to work’ stamped in my passport!” Ultimately trapped in a difficult situation after moving abroad for her husband, she, like many other expat spouses, thus settled on volunteering and taking unpaid positions. When she later moved to Australia, she still had difficulties in finding work as employers were unimpressed by her four-year visa. What did she learn from her journey? “Be clear on the work ethic that you value. Volunteering is great, but if you know the worth of your input, stand up for that!”

Additionally, Iwona, a Polish InterNations Ambassador in Muscat found that “there is a limited number of expat women in a similar professional position around as a source of support or information”. Although culture shock is something that all expatriates deal with, cultural differences in certain countries make it challenging for a woman to make the most of her experience, and finding others in a similar situation can be helpful at such a daunting time.

In the end, though, despite the challenges that expat women may face, living abroad is a privilege and it is the friendships and experiences made along the way that make all the downsides worthwhile!

Blandine West is a bilingual travel enthusiast with a severe case of wanderlust. Originally British, French and Spanish, she has spent her life travelling the globe after being born in Singapore, growing up in Thailand, studying in England and now working in the public relations department at InterNations in Munich.