This paper examines the life courses of young adults in France, the differences between courses according to gender and social background, and their evolution. The study is based on the Santé et itinéraire professionnel survey (a survey on health and professional career conducted by DREES and Dares), which provides information about courses between the ages of 14 and 35 for individuals born between 1932 and 1975. A traditional threshold approach is complemented by the use of optimal matching methods. The evidence shows that leaving the parents’ home is more associated with the family sphere than the professional sphere and that the family and professional spheres are not significantly correlated. The impact of social background on life courses has increased since the late 1960s and is more pronounced in the family sphere for women and in the professional sphere for men. Gender differences have decreased. Finally, there is no clear trend towards a de-standardisation of life courses. On the other hand, courses appear to be becoming increasingly complex.

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Citation: Robette, N. (2020). The Life Courses of Young Adults in France: Changes in Social and Gender Differentiation over the Long Period. Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, 514‑515‑516, 9–28.
https://doi.org/10.24187/ecostat.2020.514t.2006