Expatriating for safety: recognition and marginalized women expatriates in the UAE

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore motivations for self-initiated expatriation (SIE) among marginalized Western women, using the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a research site. Drawing on Honneth’s (1996) recognition theory, we investigate expatriation as a quest for safety and socio-political recognition. While expatriation literature frequently emphasizes career and lifestyle motivations, the role of safety as a primary driver for expatriation among women is underexplored. We demonstrate that expatriation can be seen as a means of gaining safety in society, at work and for children.

Design/methodology/approach: Through 30 semi-structured interviews, this paper shows how misrecognition and discrimination in the home countries of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (USA) push women to seek safety and recognition abroad.

Findings: The study extends the expatriation literature by revealing how socio-political and safety-related factors influence expatriation decisions, particularly among minoritized groups. We call for a more comprehensive examination of the socio-political and safety-related pull factors influencing expatriation decisions and conclude with theoretical and practical implications.

Originality/value: The study extends the expatriation literature by revealing how socio-political and safety-related factors influence expatriation decisions, particularly among minoritized groups.