42% of women in a relationship occupy a lower social position than their partner

According to the statistics institute, which examined the difference between socio-professional categories within couples between 2021 and 2022, motherhood would constitute a brake on the social position of women.

According to a study on the new face of France, published on Thursday 23 November by INSEE, 42% of heterosexual women in a relationship occupy a lower social position than their partner. In contrast, only 20% of men have a lower social status than their partner. In the professional environment, this translates into having a position with less responsibility, less recognition and less well paid.

God makes them and then couples them

However, in France, in four out of ten couples, both spouses belong to the same social group. This middle ground has a name: “ homogamy “.

“Homogamy has been generally stable since the early 2000s” in France, summarizes for Western France Erwan Pouliquen, unit head of INSEE’s employment division and co-author of the report.

In high socio-professional categories, homogamy is almost the norm, the study reveals:

“Higher-level working class employees are five times more likely to have a relationship with an employee of the same class than with another person than people from other classes. In other words, a person belonging to the higher wage labor class is more likely to choose to unite with another person of this same class, reflecting a phenomenon of behavioral homogamy. »

Added to this is the tendency to join with people of the same level of diploma or similar training.

Within a couple, social positions are not fixed, says INSEE. One of the factors in particular is that of first motherhood, which tends to slow down the professional progression of the woman compared to her spouse, underlines the INSEE. “The latter are likely to move up the social hierarchy while their partner remains at the same level, which partly explains the differences between the sexes”summary Publication.

In total, 38% of French people live in a homogamous couple.

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