International Business (Research) and the LGBTQIA+ Community: Advancing Theory and Societal Relevance
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Journal Article
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Emerald
Abstract
Purpose The study aims to catalyze research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other non-heteronormative sexual identity (LGBTQIA+) issues within the international business (IB) field in a structured manner beyond human resource management (HRM) or marketing topics. In addition to the growing number of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) researchers, the authors also want to speak to a broader audience of IB scholars focused on multinational enterprise (MNE) non-market strategy, IB policy and strategic management scholars. Design/methodology/approach The study first looks at the evolving LGBTQIA+ terminology. It then synthesizes the extant LGBTQIA+ literature, as it relates to the IB field, starting with the marketing literature from the 1990s. Findings Within the IB literature, HRM issues, particularly around expatriation and the diffusion of LGBTQIA+ policies and practices, dominate. The study also finds that the majority of LGBTQIA+ research is etic rather than in nature and is heavily dominated by Anglo-American terminology and western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic (WEIRD) ontologies. Originality/value The IB field has only recently started systematically addressing diversity, such as gender, ethnicity and race. The interest in sexual orientation and the LGBTQIA+ community is even more novel. The authors make a case for more emic-type of LGBTQIA+ research and stronger cultural theorizing to provide nuanced and pluralistic approaches beyond so-called WEIRD perspectives. The study also provides guidance on how the IB field should engage with LGBTQIA+ topics across multiple levels of theorizing and analysis and provides some supporting research questions.Description
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Critical Perspectives on International Business, ISSN: 1742-2043 (Print); 1742-2043 (Online), Emerald. doi: 10.1108/cpoib-05-2025-0112
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© 2025 Matevž (Matt) Rašković and William E. Newburry. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence maybe seen at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/