Female expatriates are reluctant to return back home

Many Female Expats have no hurry to go back to the old country. They are afraid of getting a less interesting job, of the loss of luxury and comfort, and of a watered-down social life. Many are, in hindsight, surprised by their success with, and love of, the expat life. “Before I said that I never ever wanted to be an expat for a long time,” a majority of female expats state, “now I dread going back to the Netherlands forever.”

Most are not afraid they can not find work in the Homeland. But one important difference is that in the Netherlands one is but are a small cog in a larger whole. In most non-Western countries, an expatriate really has a specially added value, because the level of the local people is usually lower. Comparatively, an expat's competitive position on the national job market is often much less than abroad.

The standards of living that an expat often can enjoy, like a large house with swimming pool and domestic staff for example, is not something one can reach easily in the West. As even in the most liberated countries housekeeping is still mostly done by women, the loss of these extras is felt more keenly by female expats. And even disregarding such creature comforts, one might simply like the surroundings abroad more than those at home.

Often, female expats follow their husbands or boyfriends abroad, first only as housewife, seeking work only after settling down, but the reverse is increasingly becoming more common. This has improved the position of female expats, as in the past, the course of one's husband's career was decisive for her own.

A big problem for repatriates is that foreign experience is often assessed wrongly by employers. Some see an expat stay as a glorified sabbatical, others see expats as miracle workers. In some countries, companies do not invest much in their employees, while in other countries companies support extra courses naturally. Similarly, many expatriates, whether male or female, have an adventurous streak and try their hands at various jobs, resulting in a resume with a wide range of experience but with less knowledge of a single subject in depth, when compared to one who that stayed at home dedicated to a single job. Also, even in true multinationals, the one that is close to the headquarters and joins on the golf course, will be more familiar and will have a better chance to get a new job or position. Modern technologies can lesser some of this effect, but for proper networking, face to face meetings still rule supreme. With the danger of sounding sexist, female expats find this more of a hinder than male ones.

This is also true for personal relations. When moving away, some friendships will be fading, the attention from the Netherlands slackening. It is often difficult for friends to imagine how the expats' lives will look abroad, and after some time, will no longer ask. Meanwhile, expats abroad can often rely on expat communities, serving as moral support and a source for new friendships. On the other hand, there is barely such a thing for repatriates, so a former expat has to start all over again with less support than when moving abroad. Consequently many, whether male or female, want to return to the Expat live again.

Source: RWN Radio Wereldomroep Nederland