Spousal influence and family-relatedness of work decisions in mixed couples: experiences of Japanese female self-initiated expatriates

Purpose This study examines the role of French spouses in shaping family-relatedness of work decision (FRWD) processes among Japanese female self-initiated expatriates (SIEs) in France, with a focus on how conjugal dynamics, agency and intersectional positioning affect work-related decisions and professional integration. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology using biographical narrative interviews was employed with 19 Japanese women who self-initiated their expatriation to France and are currently partnered with French spouses. Analysis was guided by FRWD framework coupled with the intersectionality theory. Findings Spouses act as both facilitators and gatekeepers for career transitions, influencing role entry, participation and exit. They provide emotional, informational, and practical support that can open access to the French labour market, yet unequal domestic labour, income and stability gaps, and asymmetrical access to local norms are often rationalized through comparison to Japanese norms. Agency emerges through negotiation, with satisfaction constructed relationally within the couple. Research limitations/implications Focusing on current long-term residents may introduce selection bias, excluding women who left France or their relationships. Comparative, intersectional research across professions and contexts is needed for a deeper understanding. Notably, this study highlights the spouse’s role as a boundary spanner, facilitating network and cultural integration. Future research should systematically address these relational and processual aspects in expatriate career development. Originality/value The study contributes new insights by integrating FRWD and intersectionality in SIE research, highlighting spousal participation as an evolving process rather than a static resource. It challenges individualistic and resource-centric models by foregrounding the relational, contextual and processual nature of global career mobility decisions.