Same, same but different? A comparative study of women’s networking for career success in Germany and India

Networking is critical for career success. Unfortunately, women around the globe, particularly in Asia, face various barriers to networking that limit their career opportunities. This exploratory study draws on interviews with 60 career women in Germany and India to examine the networking barriers they face and the strategies they use to overcome them. Despite significant cultural and institutional differences between the two countries, our findings indicate that women in Germany and India encounter comparable barriers. However, German and Indian women use different response strategies to navigate these networking barriers. While German women tend to use indirect strategies, Indian women’s strategies are marked by assertiveness and proactive efforts. For instance, by owning their networking journey, actively and collectively creating their own opportunities, defying gendered expectations, and resorting to their family support system, Indian women strive to build their own network or ‘jaan-pehchaan’ within organisations. Although some networking strategies can be applicable and pragmatic in specific contexts, our study shows that some strategies can inadvertently reinforce gender stereotypes, creating further barriers to women’s career equality.