Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Expatriate Glass Ceiling: The Second Layer of Glass

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The corporate glass ceiling continues to be a challenge for many organizations. However, women executives may be facing a second pane of obstruction – an expatriate glass ceiling – that prevents them from receiving the foreign management assignments and experience that is becoming increasing critical for promotion to upper management. The responsibility to break the expatriate glass ceiling lies with both female managers and the multinational corporations that utilize expatriates. In this paper, we propose pre-assignment, on-assignment, and post-assignment strategies for breaking the expatriate glass ceiling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler N. 1984, Women Do Not Want International Careers: And Other Myths About International Management. Organizational Dynamics 13(2), 66–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adler N. 1987, Pacific Basin Managers: A Gaijin, Not a Woman. Human Resource Management 26, 169–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Adler N. 1994, Competitive Frontiers: Women Managing Across Borders. Journal of Management Development 13(2), 24–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black J. S., H. B. Gregerson, M. E. Mendenhall, L. K. Stroh 1999, Globalizing People Through International Assignments. Addison Wesley, Reading, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt R. S. 1992, Structural Holes. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt R. S. 1998, The Gender of Social Capital. Rationality and Society 10(1), 5–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buzzanell P. 1995, Reframing the Glass Ceiling as a Socially Constructed Process: Implications for Understanding and Change. Communication Monographs 6(4), 327–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne D. 1971, The Attraction Paradigm. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Caligiuri P. M., W. Cascio 1998, Can We Send Her There? Maximizing the Success of Western Women on Global Assignments. Journal of World Business 33, 394–417

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caligiuri P. M., R. Tung 1999, Comparing the Success of Male and Female Expatriates from a US-Based Company. International Journal of Human Resource Management 10, 163–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caligiuri, P. M., J. Phillips, M. Lazarova, I. Tarique and P. Bürgi: 2001, ‹The Theory of Met Expectations Applied to Expatriate Adjustment: The Role of Cross-Cultural Training’, International Journal of Human Resource Management 12, 357–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox T. 1994, Cultural Diversity in Organizations: Theory, Practice, and Research. Berrett-Kohler, San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmuti D., J. Lehman, B. Harmon, X. Lu, A. Pape, R. Zhang, T. Zimmerle 2003. Inequality Between Genders in the Executive Suite in Corporate America: Moral and Ethical Issues. Equal Opportunities International 22(8), 1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elsass P. M., L. M. Graves: 1997, Demography Diversity in Decision-Making Groups: The Experience of Women and People of Color. Academy of Management Review 22, 946–973

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischlmayr I. C. 2002, Female Self Perception as Barrier to International Careers. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 13(5), 773–783

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman J., D. Fields, T. Blum 2003, Cracks in the Glass Ceiling: In What Kinds of Organizations Do Women Make It to the Top? Group & Organizational Management 28(4), 474–501

    Google Scholar 

  • GMAC Global Relocation Services: 2006, Global Relocation Trends: 2005 Survey Report (GMAC Global Relocations Services, National Foreign Trade Council and SHRM Global Forum, Woodridge, IL)

  • Haines III V. Y., T. Saba 1999, Understanding Reactions to International Mobility Policies and Practices. Human Resource Planning 22(3), 40–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris H. 1998. Women’s Role in (International) Management. In A. W. Harzing, J. V. Ruysseveldt (eds.), International Human Resource Management. Sage, London, 229–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey M. 1996. Addressing the Dual-Career Expatriation Dilemma. Human Resource Planning 19(4), 18–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Harvey M., D. Wiese 1998. Global Dual-Career Couple Mentoring: A Phase Model Approach. Human Resource Planning 21(2), 33–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibarra H. 1997, Paving an Alternative Route: Gender Differences in Managerial Networks. Social Psychology Quarterly 60, 91–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssens M., T. Cappellen, P. Zanoni 2006, Successful Female Expatriates as Agents: Positioning Oneself Through Gender, Hierarchy and Culture. Journal of World Business 41, 133–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirchmeyer C. 2002, Gender Differences in Managerial Careers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Journal of Business Ethics, 37(1), 5–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kram K. E. 1983. Phases of the Mentor Relationship. Academy of Management Journal 6(4), 608–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lampe A. C. 2001, Book Reviews. Gender, Work and Organization 8(3), 346–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan M., H. Scullion 2001, European Female Expatriate Careers: Critical Success Factors. Journal of European Industrial Training 25, 392–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan M., H. Scullion 2004, Towards an Understanding of the Female Expatriate Experience in Europe. Human Resource Management Review 14, 433–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison A. M., R. P. White, E. Van Velsor 1987, Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Can Women Reach the Top of America’s Largest Corporations? Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullen E. 1994. Framing the Mentoring Relationship as an Information Exchange. Human Resource Management Review 4(3), 257–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Napier N. K. 2006. Cross-Cultural Learning and the Role of Reverse Knowledge Flows in Vietnam. International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, 6(1), 47–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Napier N., S. Taylor 2002, Experiences of Women Professionals Abroad: Comparisons Across Japan, China, and Turkey. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 13, 837–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piak Y., C. Vance 2002, Evidence of Back Home Selection Bias Against U.S. Female Expatriates. Women in Management Review 17(2), 68–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ragins B. R., B. Townsend, M. Mattis 1998. Gender Gap in the Executive Suite: CEOs and Female Executives Report on Breaking the Glass Ceiling. Academy of Management Executive 12(1), 28–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneer J., F. Reitman 2002, Managerial Life Without a Wife: Family Structure and Managerial Career Success. Journal of Business Ethics 37, 25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schor S. M.: 1997, Separate and Unequal. Business Horizons 40(5), 51–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selmer J., A. S. M. Leung 2003a, Are Corporate Career Development Activities Less Available to Female Than to Male Expatriates. Journal of Business Ethics 43, 125–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selmer J., A. S. M. Leung 2003b, Provision and Adequacy of Corporate Support to Male Expatriate Spouses: An Exploratory Study. Personnel Review 32(1), 9–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tai A. R., R. L. Sims 2005. The Perception of the Glass Ceiling in High Technology Companies. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies 12(1), 16–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor S., N. Napier 1996, Working in Japan: Lessons from Western Expatriates. Sloan Management Review 37, 76–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor S., N. K. Napier 2001. An American Woman in Turkey: Adventures Unexpected and Knowledge Unplanned. Human Resource Management Journal, 40(4), 347–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tharenou P. 1999, Gender Differences in Advancing to the Top. International Journal of Management Review, 1(2), 111–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tharenou, P. and M. Harvey: 2006, ‹Examining the Overseas Staffing Options Utilized by Australian Headquartered Multinational Corporations’, International Journal of Human Resource Management 17, 1095–1114

    Google Scholar 

  • The Leaders Edge/Executive Women Research 2002 Survey: 2003, ‹Why Women Leave?’ Executive Female Summer, 4

  • Tung R. 1998, A Contingency Framework on Selection and Training of Expatriates Revisited. Human Resource Management Review 8, 23–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Vianen A. E. M., I. E. De Pater, A. I. Kristof-Brown, E. C. Johnson 2004, Fitting in: Surface- and Deep-Level Cultural Differences and Expatriates’ Adjustment. Academy of Management Journal 47(5), 697–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vance C., Y. Piak 2001, Where Do American Women Face Their Biggest Obstacle to Expatriate Career Success? Back in Their Own Backyard. Cross Cultural Management 8, 98–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varma A., S. M. Toh, P. Budhwar 2006. A New Perspective on the Female Expatriate Experience: The Role of Host Country National Categorization. Journal of World Business 41(2), 112–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan A., G. Zhu, D. T. Hall 2002, International Assignments for Career Building: A Model of Agency Relationships and Psychological Contracts. Academy of Management Review 27(3), 373–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Business Administration, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6025, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6025, U.S.A.

    Gary S. Insch

  2. Division of Business Administration, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6025, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6025, U.S.A.

    Nancy McIntyre

  3. International Business, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID, 83725-1600, U.S.A.

    Nancy K. Napier

Authors
  1. Gary S. Insch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nancy McIntyre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nancy K. Napier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gary S. Insch.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Insch, G.S., McIntyre, N. & Napier, N.K. The Expatriate Glass Ceiling: The Second Layer of Glass. J Bus Ethics 83, 19–28 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9649-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-007-9649-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation