Leaving the nest in immigrant neighbourhoods: Gender and origin differences in France

Haley Elizabeth McAvay, Ariane Pailhé

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This article investigates patterns of leaving the parental home in immigrant-dense neighbourhoods by gender and immigrant origin. We draw on a unique large sample, individual-level panel, the Permanent Demographic Sample (1990–2013), matched with neighbourhood-level census data, to track three types of transitions out of the parental home: leaving for an unmarried union, marriage, or independent living. The findings show that growing up in an immigrant-dense neighbourhood is associated with a decreased likelihood of leaving the parental home net of individual, family and contextual controls. Yet patterns vary by gender and origin. French majority youth, Southern European origin women and Sub-Saharan African men are more likely to remain in the parental home when they originate in an immigrant-dense neighbourhood. For others, particularly North African women, growing up in an immigrant-dense neighbourhood is linked to more frequent departures from the parental home to enter marriage. Opposite patterns are found for French majority and Asian origin women. Variation in home-leaving by neighbourhood environments is generally more pronounced for women. We discuss these trajectories in light of socioeconomic disadvantage and normative constraints in immigrant areas and residential sorting.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4622-4647
Number of pages26
JournalJournal of Ethnic and Migration Studies
Volume48
Early online date28 Dec 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 28 Dec 2021

Bibliographical note

© 2021 The Author(s).

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