Living abroad can sharpen the visibility of gender stereotypes, especially in professional settings. Women are often seen as following their partners overseas, expected to fill their days within expat social circles. Men face their own clich茅s: they are typically cast as ambitious professionals, sent abroad for a strategic career move, often into senior roles. Why do these outdated views about gender and international careers still persist?
The "trailing spouse" hypothesis
In popular imagination, the trailing spouse abroad is almost always a woman.
"When I moved to Singapore for an executive position, most people immediately assumed my husband had been transferred there. It's exhausting to constantly explain that I was the primary breadwinner," says , a marketing director.
While it is still often the case that international moves are driven by the husband's career, the trend is shifting. According to the 2, women now make up 30% of professionally active expatriates 鈥� a sharp rise from just 5% in the 1980s.
It is also important to distinguish between traditional expatriation models and newer realities. In the past, most expatriates moved abroad through company-sponsored assignments. Today, many find jobs locally on local contracts. The same study shows a growing number of professionals actively seeking work abroad, independent of corporate transfers. In these cases, the notion of the "trailing spouse" becomes less relevant.
Increasingly, couples choose their targeted destinations together, weighing career opportunities for both partners.
A stay-at-home expat husband?
As a counterpoint to the common stereotype, men are often expected to be the main earners abroad.
Encountering a male expatriate who stays home to care for the children still provokes surprise 鈥� even admiration 鈥� including among those who see themselves as free from bias.
Jonathan, a British expatriate, shares his experience: "When I decided to take a career break and focus on raising our children in Sweden while my wife worked, I received countless comments about my 'bravery,' as if I had somehow given up on being a man."
There are signs of gradual change. The notes that, within the European Union, childcare responsibilities are increasingly shared between men and women.
A female engineer abroad?
In France, only 24% of engineers are women, according to the latest survey from the Ing茅nieurs et Scientifiques de France association. The is slightly higher in countries like Germany and Finland, but engineering remains a male-dominated field across much of the world.
Several initiatives aim to challenge stereotypes discouraging women from pursuing scientific and technical careers. In France, for example, the association Elles bougent ("They Move") works to break down barriers in industries such as aerospace, maritime transport, digital technology, and the automotive sector.
These efforts are slowly making a difference. Still, encountering a female engineer abroad often triggers surprise.
Lisa, an engineer based in Singapore, explains: "At times, I had to really hold my ground when dealing with Indonesian or Vietnamese counterparts who weren't used to seeing a woman in this role."
Leadership: A male attribute?
Among expatriates, leadership is still often seen as a natural male trait.
Women, by contrast, are frequently perceived as less suited to managing teams or departments. When they do assert authority, they risk being labeled "unfeminine."
A on women in the workplace highlights this bias. It found that 40% of women believe their gender negatively affects their career progression abroad, particularly when it comes to leadership roles.
Meena, an Indian expatriate, shares her experience: "In Dubai, I was the only woman on a 15-person team. While my male colleagues were invited to after-work dinners, I was often excluded. Yet, I was supposed to lead the team on a project. It was a really difficult experience. Even I didn't always feel legitimate, knowing that others didn't accept my authority."
Work-life balance: A women's priority?
Traditionally, men abroad were seen as more focused on work, with personal and family life seen as secondary 鈥� a burden that weighed less on them than on women.
But this view is becoming outdated. Mindsets are shifting across generations.
A of 22,800 Gen Z respondents shows that work-life balance is now the top priority when choosing a job. The era of long hours and sacrificing everything for career advancement is fading. Flexibility 鈥� in working hours, location, and conditions 鈥� alongside well-being and a healthy personal-professional balance, is now paramount.
Many organizations have responded, offering flexible working arrangements to meet these new expectations.
Men struggle more with cultural adaptation?
Another persistent clich茅 suggests that men have a harder time adapting to local cultures at work and in daily life.
Research indicates that women tend to show greater intercultural adaptability, often attributed to stronger interpersonal skills and a greater willingness to engage with local customs and social networks.
, a British expatriate in Tokyo, shares his experience: "In Japan, I struggled with the indirect communication style in the workplace. I often felt I was misreading cues or pushing too hard in discussions. Meanwhile, my female colleagues seemed to adapt much more quickly 鈥� they easily built relationships with local staff, almost as if by mimicry."
What's reality and what's a clich茅?
Stereotypes often stem from fragments of truth. But when stretched too far, they become little more than caricatures. The challenge lies in recognizing the nuance without falling into easy generalizations. As Frederick II of Prussia once warned about stereotypes: "Chase them out the door, and they will return through the window."
