Henley Business School, U. of Reading, United Kingdom
This study delves into the underexplored realm of the experiences of qualified black female self-initiated expatriates. Employing a multi-level framework, we investigate the interplay between macro-level societal perceptions, meso-level employment conditions, and micro-level interpersonal dynamics, with the United Arab Emirates as our research site. We reveal the profound impact of racial and gender discrimination, leading to a range of negative experiences, from subtle microaggressions to explicit stigmatization and biases. These experiences, in turn, significantly affect the mental health and well-being of black female expatriates, manifesting as anxiety and stress and leading to employment turnover. The study emphasizes the critical role of the leader-member dyad in influencing these experiences and underscores the urgent need for organizations to address institutional racism. The research advances our understanding of the challenges black female face in the expatriate context and calls for a comprehensive examination of workplace discrimination in the global labor market.
