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A Long Journey of Going Gender: Women’s Self-initiated Expatriate Experiences and Career Decision Making

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Thesis(3.86 MB)

Date

2025

Authors

Basnayake, Courtenay Grace Karl

Supervisor

Harris, Candice
Hurd, Fiona
Myers, Barbara

Item type

Thesis

Degree name

Doctor of Philosophy

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

This doctoral thesis investigates the career decision-making processes of mid-adulthood professional self-initiated expatriate (SIE) women living and working in New Zealand, with the ‘going gender’ framework (Stenbacka & Forsberg, 2020) serving as the primary theoretical lens for understanding the dynamic interplay between gender, careers, and self-initiated expatriation (SIE). This research aims to contribute to the existing literature by exploring the gendered experiences of mid-adulthood professional SIE women, particularly within the New Zealand context. It seeks to move beyond traditional career-centric perspectives by exploring mid-adulthood SIE women's broader personal and professional experiences. The study seeks to understand how ‘going gender’ operates as a dynamic process within the context of SIE, recognising the influence of early life experiences and the multifaceted nature of international career and life trajectories. Employing a narrative inquiry and life story approach, this study gathered and analysed the lived experiences of 15 SIE women through semi-structured interviews. A multi-layered thematic analysis of these narratives revealed that ‘going gender’ is not merely a reactive adaptation occurring during and following SIE but a proactive, anticipatory process beginning before relocation. The research highlights the enduring influence of early life experiences, such as childhood exposure to diverse cultures and experiences, on women's propensity for and navigation of SIE. The study also demonstrates that SIE catalyses or facilitates accelerated personal and professional growth, leading to significant shifts in career aspirations and life priorities during SIE. This research concludes that ‘going gender’ within the SIE context involves a more anticipatory and iterative process than previously understood, thereby challenging traditional models of gender performativity prevalent in SIE literature. The study advances an understanding of SIE by emphasising the significant influence of early life experiences and the transformative potential of women’s international mobility. From a theoretical perspective, this research reconfigures Stenbacka and Frosberg's ‘going gender’ framework by demonstrating its applicability to the SIE context and highlighting the proactive nature of gender role negotiation. Practically, the findings underscore the need for holistic support systems for mid-adulthood professional SIE women, addressing both their professional and personal well-being. Policy implications include addressing gender related issues in SIE, such as pay gaps and underemployment, and developing immigration policies that facilitate smooth integration. This research contributes to a greater understanding of SIE as a comprehensive life journey, revealing how gender intersects with career decision-making and the international mobility of women in New Zealand.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20120

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Doctoral Theses