Challenging the expatriate dress code:
Case study
Drs Debbie and David Hawker, Clinical Psychologists, United Kingdom
Situation. The expatriates in your team wear clothes which are viewed as offensive in
your culture (e.g. shorts and sleeveless t-shirts). This is giving the NGO a bad reputation
in your town, and makes you and your team members feel uncomfortable around them.
Option 1 – Don’t say anything to the expatriates, even though you feel uncomfortable
with their behavior.
Option 2 – When it becomes too much, show your anger – shout at the expatriates, or
tell them they are immoral, offensive and behaving like prostitutes and they should go
back to their own dirty country and stop defiling yours.
Option 3 – Be nice and friendly when you are with the expatriates, but behind their
backs call them ‘dirty animals’. Disregard their instructions as they are not worthy of
respect. Write an anonymous letter of complaint to the international headquarters of
the NGO.
Option 4: an assertive response – Ask one of the expatriates if you could talk to them
when they have time. When you meet up, say something like: ‘I am grateful for what
you are doing in coming to our country. It must be hard to know how to behave in a
different culture, so I would like to help if you will let me. For example, I feel
uncomfortable when you wear shorts to work, because in my culture we find it
offensive to see so much of people’s legs. I know that people in town are laughing at
you too. I would appreciate it if you covered your legs down to the knee when you are in
the office. How would you feel about that?’
Stop and think…
Which response do you think would achieve the best outcome?