Page 101 - DMGT548_GLOBAL_HRM

Global HRM

Notes (3) foreign prejudices against women would tend to make them ineffective. Adler refutes the
first argument, finding no difference between male and female MBA graduates with respect
to their attitudes toward overseas assignments. She found validity to the second point,
citing reasons such as the prejudices of foreigners, dual-career families, and concerns over
the potential danger inherent in some overseas postings. She also found support for
foreign prejudices that would make women less effective—especially in Middle Eastern
nations.
In 1989, six years after Alder’s study, a survey by Moran Stahl and Boyer Inc. reported (Solmon,
1989) that women received 5% of U.S. expatriate assignments, but 80% of the respondents noted
the following disadvantages to posting women in foreign lands:
(1) many foreign clients refuse to do business with women;
(2) men must be assigned in many locales to provide the required conservative corporate
image; and
(3) it is unreasonable to send women into some countries, such as Pakistan or Saudi Arabia.
Although there is paucity of research on the subject, it appears that women are making
some gains in the expatriate area, but significant improvements are constrained by moderate
prejudice at home and cases of extreme prejudice abroad. Even in places such as the U.S.,
where women are becoming more accepted at the workplace, the pay gap between male
and female workers still exists (Fortune, 1994).

Notes Women Managers in India

Although Indian women have a track record holding important political positions, too
few have achieved similar success in ranks of business management. Progress in this area
is still held back by traditional beliefs that women are second class citizens whose place is
in the home. Too many Indian women deny themselves opportunities simply because
they have no interest in managerial careers. However, as more women excel in politics
and in elected offices, their acceptance and interest in corporate boardrooms are increasing
gradually.

Task Taking the example of HSBC explain the steps taken by the organisation to deal
with the problem of dual career role.

Self Assessment

State whether the following are true or false:
18. Multinational never assists spouse or partner assistance with the employment search in
the host country.
19. MNCs may send the couple to the same foreign facility, this is called Intra-company
employment.

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