Trailing Spouses: Empowering Expat Women Partners

As we celebrate International Women's Day, it's important to draw focus not only on the gender disparity within international careers but also on the trailing spouses, who are 84% women and leave behind their lives in their home country for the benefit of their partner’s career. While men are advancing in international careers worldwide, according to InterNations, 72% of unemployed expat spouses said they left a career when they moved abroad with their partners.

The reasons behind these numbers vary. Some trailing spouses view the move as an opportunity to prioritize their families, while others aim to further their careers internationally or explore new opportunities abroad. However, most are unaware of the challenges they will encounter, such as navigating the job market abroad, establishing a support system, and adapting to life in a foreign country.

What is the problem here?

When expat partners encounter unexpected difficulties and lack the means to overcome them, they frequently question their relocation choice and experience dissatisfaction. This often results in mental health issues, family instability, and subsequently, a negative impact on the executive's job performance. The consequences are negative for everyone involved.

As an expert, my advice is not to underestimate the obstacles and assume that 'if other couples can manage it abroad, so can we.' The circumstances for locals are often very different from those for expats, including variances in maternity leave, tax benefits, local networks, among other factors, as well as your own cultural references.

So, what can we do to support these individuals?

Become Aware and Prepare: Executives and trailing spouses need to understand the challenges they will encounter and prepare accordingly. Awareness of factors such as childcare options, support network, and the local job market can help mitigate frustrations and conflicts at home. When we moved to Paris, for instance, we faced unexpected challenges with the French education system. Our daughter's only daycare option was an exorbitantly priced private facility. Additionally, we were surprised to discover that schools do not hold classes on Wednesdays (yes, every Wednesday) and they have 2 week breaks every 6 weeks, leaving our 3-year-old son at home more often than we expected. Not having a solid support system made it impossible for me to go back to my corporate career at that time.

Seek Support: Trailing spouses require support to navigate the challenges of expatriate life effectively. While the expat executive may dive into their new role and begin their frequent business trips, the trailing spouse often feels the impact of the move more intensely. Having an expert guidance, someone who has been in your shoes and knows how to support you, can significantly enhance the family's expat experience and the executive's performance at work.

Pursue Personal Goals and Aspirations: Even if not working professionally, trailing spouses should strive for personal fulfillment and growth. It's essential to identify and pursue individual goals, finding purpose and enjoyment in the expatriate journey.

Becoming a trailing spouse is a significant transition that often involves deviating from one's career path. However, by understanding the challenges, seeking support, and pursuing personal aspirations, trailing spouses can transform their expatriate experience into a fulfilling and enriching journey.

If you have the opportunity to access support services like Interoots to guide you through this journey, seize it! Together, we can navigate the expatriate experience and transform it into something truly remarkable.

Are you an expat or contemplating becoming one?

Reach out to Interoots Consulting, LLC to explore our programs. Allow us to assist you and your family in navigating successfully your expat adventure with confidence and empowerment, saving you valuable time and energy.

We also collaborate with companies, supporting them in achieving accelerated high-performance outcomes while boosting international assignments ROI.