IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/worbus/v55y2020i1s1090951618307442.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Intersectional arithmetic: How gender, race and mother tongue combine to impact immigrants’ work outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Fitzsimmons, Stacey R.
  • Baggs, Jen
  • Brannen, Mary Yoko

Abstract

We use an intercategorical approach to intersectionality to quantify pay and attainment of supervisory positions for groups of immigrants and their descendants who also vary in gender, mother tongue, and race. Using a Canadian nationally representative sample of 20,000 employees across 6000 firms, we find a $10,000 spread in annual pay between the groups with the most advantages and those experiencing the most barriers, loosely corresponding to an additive model of intersectional benefits and barriers. The effects of immigrant generation are partially mitigated by the degree to which firms are internationally-oriented, indicating that international businesses may help to reduce inequities.

Suggested Citation

  • Fitzsimmons, Stacey R. & Baggs, Jen & Brannen, Mary Yoko, 2020. "Intersectional arithmetic: How gender, race and mother tongue combine to impact immigrants’ work outcomes," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:55:y:2020:i:1:s1090951618307442
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jwb.2019.101013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090951618307442
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jwb.2019.101013?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laura Giuliano & David I. Levine & Jonathan Leonard, 2009. "Manager Race and the Race of New Hires," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 27(4), pages 589-631, October.
    2. George J. Borjas, 2021. "The Economic Benefits from Immigration," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Foundational Essays in Immigration Economics, chapter 13, pages 411-430, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Sujin Jang, 2017. "Cultural Brokerage and Creative Performance in Multicultural Teams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(6), pages 993-1009, December.
    4. Vesa Peltokorpi & Eero Vaara, 2012. "Language policies and practices in wholly owned foreign subsidiaries: A recontextualization perspective," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 43(9), pages 808-833, December.
    5. Yao, Y. & van Ours, J.C., 2015. "Language Skills and Labor Market Performance of Immigrants in the Netherlands," Other publications TiSEM 8df5e344-eb4e-4c90-9429-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Christian Dustmann & Francesca Fabbri, 2003. "Language proficiency and labour market performance of immigrants in the UK," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 113(489), pages 695-717, July.
    7. Vesa Peltokorpi & Eero Vaara, 2014. "Knowledge transfer in multinational corporations: Productive and counterproductive effects of language-sensitive recruitment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(5), pages 600-622, June.
    8. Vesa Peltokorpi & Eero Vaara, 2014. "Knowledge transfer in multinational corporations : Productive and counterproductive effects of language-sensitive recruitment," Post-Print hal-02313193, HAL.
    9. George J. Borjas, 1994. "The Economics of Immigration," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 32(4), pages 1667-1717, December.
    10. Yann Algan & Christian Dustmann & Albrecht Glitz & Alan Manning, 2010. "The Economic Situation of First and Second-Generation Immigrants in France, Germany and the United Kingdom," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 120(542), pages 4-30, February.
    11. Friedberg, Rachel M, 2000. "You Can't Take It with You? Immigrant Assimilation and the Portability of Human Capital," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 18(2), pages 221-251, April.
    12. Anne McBride & Gail Hebson & Jane Holgate, 2015. "Intersectionality: are we taking enough notice in the field of work and employment relations?," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 29(2), pages 331-341, April.
    13. Baker, Michael & Benjamin, Dwayne, 1994. "The Performance of Immigrants in the Canadian Labor Market," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 12(3), pages 369-405, July.
    14. Paul Edwards & Monder Ram, 2006. "Surviving on the Margins of the Economy: Working Relationships in Small, Low‐Wage Firms," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 895-916, June.
    15. Greene, W.H., 1996. "Marginal Effects in the Bivariate Probit Model," Working Papers 96-11, New York University, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Department of Economics.
    16. repec:hal:spmain:info:hdl:2441/536kq4edtr82jqovubq3ttobc5 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. repec:dau:papers:123456789/11780 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Binggeli, Steve & Dietz, Joerg & Krings, Franciska, 2013. "Immigrants: A Forgotten Minority," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 6(1), pages 107-113, March.
    19. Newburry, William & Gardberg, Naomi A. & Sanchez, Juan I., 2014. "Employer Attractiveness in Latin America: The Association Among Foreignness, Internationalization and Talent Recruitment," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 327-344.
    20. Mary Yoko Brannen & Rebecca Piekkari & Susanne Tietze, 2014. "The multifaceted role of language in international business: Unpacking the forms, functions and features of a critical challenge to MNC theory and performance," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(5), pages 495-507, June.
    21. Jean‐luc Cerdin & Manel Abdeljalil-Diné & Chris Brewster, 2014. "Qualified Immigrants’ Success: Exploring the motivation to migrate and to integrate. 45(2), 151-168," Post-Print hal-02127598, HAL.
    22. Coral del Río & Olga Alonso-Villar, 2012. "Occupational Segregation of Immigrant Women in Spain," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 91-123, June.
    23. Gundula Lücke & Tatiana Kostova & Kendall Roth, 2014. "Multiculturalism from a cognitive perspective: Patterns and implications," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(2), pages 169-190, February.
    24. Weaver, Kayla & Crayne, Matthew P. & Jones, Kisha S., 2016. "I-O at a Crossroad: The Value of an Intersectional Research Approach," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 9(1), pages 197-206, March.
    25. Pamela J Hinds & Tsedal B Neeley & Catherine Durnell Cramton, 2014. "Language as a lightning rod: Power contests, emotion regulation, and subgroup dynamics in global teams," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(5), pages 536-561, June.
    26. Davina Vora & Lee Martin & Stacey R. Fitzsimmons & Andre A. Pekerti & C. Lakshman & Salma Raheem, 2019. "Multiculturalism within individuals: A review, critique, and agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 499-524, June.
    27. Mary J. Lopez, 2012. "Skilled Immigrant Women in the US and the Double Earnings Penalty," Feminist Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 99-134, January.
    28. Helene Tenzer & Markus Pudelko & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2014. "The impact of language barriers on trust formation in multinational teams," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(5), pages 508-535, June.
    29. Wilhelm Barner-Rasmussen & Mats Ehrnrooth & Alexei Koveshnikov & Kristiina Mä;kelä, 2014. "Cultural and language skills as resources for boundary spanning within the MNC," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(7), pages 886-905, September.
    30. Bernt Bratsberg & James F. Ragan & Zafar M. Nasir, 2002. "The Effect of Naturalization on Wage Growth: A Panel Study of Young Male Immigrants," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 20(3), pages 568-597, July.
    31. Yao, Yuxin & van Ours, Jan C., 2015. "Language skills and labor market performance of immigrants in the Netherlands," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 76-85.
    32. Joerg Dietz & Chetan Joshi & Victoria M. Esses & Leah K. Hamilton & Fabrice Gabarrot, 2015. "The skill paradox: explaining and reducing employment discrimination against skilled immigrants," Post-Print hal-01667154, HAL.
    33. Abdurrahman Aydemir & Mikal Skuterud, 2005. "Explaining the deteriorating entry earnings of Canada's immigrant cohorts, 1966 - 2000," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 38(2), pages 641-672, May.
    34. Marschan-Piekkari, Rebecca & Welch, Denice & Welch, Lawrence, 1999. "In the shadow: the impact of language on structure, power and communication in the multinational," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 421-440, August.
    35. Stacey R Fitzsimmons & Yuan Liao & David C Thomas, 2017. "From crossing cultures to straddling them: An empirical examination of outcomes for multicultural employees," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(1), pages 63-89, January.
    36. Jean-Luc Cerdin & Manel Abdeljalil Diné & Chris Brewster, 2014. "Qualified immigrants’ success: Exploring the motivation to migrate and to integrate," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 45(2), pages 151-168, February.
    37. Eero Vaara & Vesa Peltokorpi, 2012. "Language policies and practices in wholly owned foreign subsidiaries : A recontextualization perspective," Post-Print hal-02312975, HAL.
    38. Fang, Tony & Samnani, Al-Karim & Novicevic, Milorad M. & Bing, Mark N., 2013. "Liability-of-foreignness effects on job success of immigrant job seekers," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 98-109.
    39. Philip Oreopoulos, 2011. "Why Do Skilled Immigrants Struggle in the Labor Market? A Field Experiment with Thirteen Thousand Resumes," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 3(4), pages 148-171, November.
    40. William Newburry & Naomi A Gardberg & Liuba Y Belkin, 2006. "Organizational attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder: the interaction of demographic characteristics with foreignness," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(5), pages 666-686, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro & Dieleman, Marleen & Hirsch, Paul & Rodrigues, Suzana B. & Zyglidopoulos, Stelios, 2021. "Multinationals’ misbehavior," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(5).
    2. Michalski, Marina P. & Śliwa, Martyna, 2021. "‘If you use the right Arabic…’: Responses to special language standardization within the BBC Arabic Service’s linguascape," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 56(5).
    3. Aida Hajro & Chris Brewster & Washika Haak-Saheem & Michael J. Morley, 2023. "Global migration: Implications for international business scholarship," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(6), pages 1134-1150, August.
    4. Debora Gottardello, 2023. "The maze: Reflections on navigating intersectional identities in the workplace," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 1839-1854, September.
    5. Lazarova, Mila & Caligiuri, Paula & Collings, David G. & De Cieri, Helen, 2023. "Global work in a rapidly changing world: Implications for MNEs and individuals," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 58(1).
    6. Stacey Fitzsimmons & Mustafa F. Özbilgin & David C. Thomas & Stella Nkomo, 2023. "Equality, diversity, and inclusion in international business: A review and research agenda," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(8), pages 1402-1422, October.
    7. Breunig, Robert & Hansell, David & Win, Nu Nu, 2023. "Modelling Australian Public Service Careers," IZA Discussion Papers 16549, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Julia Backmann & Rouven Kanitz & Amy Wei Tian & Patrick Hoffmann & Martin Hoegl, 2020. "Cultural gap bridging in multinational teams," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 51(8), pages 1283-1311, October.
    2. Helene Tenzer & Siri Terjesen & Anne-Wil Harzing, 2017. "Language in International Business: A Review and Agenda for Future Research," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 815-854, December.
    3. Vesa Peltokorpi, 2023. "The “language” of career success: The effects of English language competence on local employees’ career outcomes in foreign subsidiaries," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(2), pages 258-284, March.
    4. Vesa Peltokorpi & Markus Pudelko, 2021. "When more is not better: A curvilinear relationship between foreign language proficiency and social categorization," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 78-104, February.
    5. Shipilov, Andrew V. & Li, Stan Xiao & Li, Wan, 2020. "Can you do Kung Fu and also act? New entrants’ status attainment in the creative industries," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(3).
    6. Bonin, Holger, 2017. "The Potential Economic Benefits of Education of Migrants in the EU," IZA Research Reports 75, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Tenzer, Helene & Pudelko, Markus, 2017. "The influence of language differences on power dynamics in multinational teams," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(1), pages 45-61.
    8. Davina Vora & Lee Martin & Stacey R. Fitzsimmons & Andre A. Pekerti & C. Lakshman & Salma Raheem, 2019. "Multiculturalism within individuals: A review, critique, and agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(4), pages 499-524, June.
    9. David P. Kroon & Joep P. Cornelissen & Eero Vaara, 2015. "Explaining Employees’ Reactions towards a Cross-Border Merger: The Role of English Language Fluency," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 55(6), pages 775-800, December.
    10. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Sekiguchi, Tomoki & Yamao, Sachiko, 2021. "Expatriate justice and host country nationals' work outcomes: Does host country nationals' language proficiency matter?," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    11. Hae-Jung Hong & Dana Minbaeva, 2022. "Multiculturals as strategic human capital resources in multinational enterprises," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 53(1), pages 95-125, February.
    12. Liang, Hao & Marquis, C. & Renneboog, Luc & Li Sun, Sunny, 2018. "Future-time framing : The effect of language on corporate future orientation," Other publications TiSEM 1c1a2d0f-4720-46b9-829b-2, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    13. Eunbi Kim, 2023. "Top management staffing and subsidiary performance under home-country uncertainty," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1513-1543, September.
    14. Hao Liang & Christopher Marquis & Luc Renneboog & Sunny Li Sun, 2018. "Future-Time Framing: The Effect of Language on Corporate Future Orientation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(6), pages 1093-1111, December.
    15. Günter K Stahl & Martha L Maznevski, 2021. "Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A retrospective of research on multicultural work groups and an agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 4-22, February.
    16. Peltokorpi, Vesa, 2015. "Corporate Language Proficiency and Reverse Knowledge Transfer in Multinational Corporations: Interactive Effects of Communication Media Richness and Commitment to Headquarters," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 21(1), pages 49-62.
    17. Bedaso, Fenet, 2021. "The Labor Market Integration of Refugees and other Migrants in Germany," GLO Discussion Paper Series 884, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    18. Peltokorpi, Vesa, 2015. "Foreign subsidiary top manager nationality and language policy: The moderating effects of subsidiary age and size," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(5), pages 739-748.
    19. Constantinos Hadjichristidis & Janet Geipel & Luca Surian, 2017. "How foreign language affects decisions: Rethinking the brain-drain model," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 48(5), pages 645-651, July.
    20. Peltokorpi, Vesa & Yamao, Sachiko, 2017. "Corporate language proficiency in reverse knowledge transfer: A moderated mediation model of shared vision and communication frequency," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 52(3), pages 404-416.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:worbus:v:55:y:2020:i:1:s1090951618307442. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620401/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.