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Glass hearts?! Successful visible ethnic minority women migrants at work in Iceland and New Zealand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 July 2021

Edwina Pio Open the ORCID record for Edwina Pio [Opens in a new window] ,
Erla S. Kristjánsdóttir Open the ORCID record for Erla S. Kristjánsdóttir [Opens in a new window]  and
Thora H. Christiansen Open the ORCID record for Thora H. Christiansen [Opens in a new window]
Edwina Pio
Affiliation:
School of Business & Law, Auckland University of Technology, 120 Mayoral Drive, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, New Zealand
Erla S. Kristjánsdóttir*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business Administration, University of Iceland, Gimli v/Sæmundargötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Thora H. Christiansen
Affiliation:
Faculty of Business Administration, University of Iceland, Gimli v/Sæmundargötu, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
*
Author for correspondence: Erla S. Kristjánsdóttir, E-mail: esk@hi.is
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Abstract

In the diversity arena, women and their heterogeneity as visible ethnic minority migrants at work are under researched. Our qualitative empirical research reveals, and compares, how visible ethnic women migrants (VEWM) experience their journey to professional success in Iceland and New Zealand. These island nations rank in the top six of the Global Gender Gap Index, have women Prime Ministers, and increasing demographic diversity. The findings reveal that for VEWM success is a continuous journey with many different challenges. VEWM reject the notion of success as accumulation of things or titles, emphasizing instead how success is experienced. For VEWM in Iceland, success means independent hard work and aligning with other women. VEWM in New Zealand experience success through religion and giving back to the community. These differences are explored and theorized, contributing to an expanding literature of migrant complexities, beyond monolithic representations of gender at work.

Keywords

DiversityIcelandNew Zealandreligionsuccessvisible ethnic minority women
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 29 , Issue 6 , November 2023 , pp. 1010 - 1028
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2021

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