Leveraging expat bubbles: Migrant women’s information-gathering practices within Hong Kong spaces of expatriate privilege from arrival to post-divorce

In Hong Kong’s bustling metropolis, expatriate (‘expat’) bubbles operate as privileged social enclaves, offering their members fruitful access to information, spaces, networks and resources. Some migrants, such as white, male corporates originating from the Global North, readily benefit from expat bubbles as information-gathering spaces. Others face greater challenges in utilising these bubbles to their full potential. This article draws on the stories of 15 self-identified ‘expat’ women, who followed their husbands to Hong Kong, migrating there as dependent visa holders. All faced divorce after arrival, but nevertheless decided to remain. I use this article to specifically explore how this population sought to leverage expat bubbles during three stages: after arrival, during relationship breakdown and post-divorce. I highlight the information-sharing benefits that these women gained from participating in expat bubbles, along with the challenges they faced, especially during the relationship breakdown period. Through their accounts, I investigate expat bubbles in action, demonstrating their effectiveness as information-sharing mechanisms while simultaneously revealing them to be privileged sub-societies, which not all migrants can enter or benefit from.