In fact, most expatriate assignees are male, and the entire moving abroad structure revolves around the traditional family concept. From my personal observation, approximately 93% of the accompanying spouses are mothers, another 5% want soon-to-be mothers, and a maximum of 2% are like me—accompanying spouses without children. The theme of children is very dominant in an expat community. And for sure, a time abroad is an excellent option for families for many good reasons.
⛔ However, what if this path is not your aspiration or your topic?
In reality, I often feel that I stand as an anomaly within the expat community, not fitting into the preconceived notion of a „typical“ expat wife. No matter where, whether in talks, workshops, or articles—the focal point remains on families with children. Nothing to find about spouses without children! Their struggles to integrate into both, the expat community and the host society, often go unaddressed and unnoticed. Well, everything appears flawless, doesn’t it? The typical image of the „luxury expat spouse”? 🎉
Annegret Bertsch, ACC, ECPC from coaching-because asked in-depth questions and showed a genuine interest in this experience. The outcome is a deeply personal article. … and believe me, if some of my encounters sound extreme, it is only a soft version.
🖌 And for the record, naturally, each person’s journey is different. The intention isn’t about pitting one against the other here but also presenting the other perspective.
💡 So, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the subject, with or without children.
💡 Or are you an Expat partner without kids? What obstacles do you face in your expat life? And do you feel prepared for your time abroad and for such encounters?
Read full article here on the coaching because Blog
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