A theoretical analysis of the cultural transmission mechanism of cultural minorities originating from immigration in an anti-communautarian France

Details

Supervisors

Cassan, Guilhem

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [60] en sciences économiques, orientation générale

Abstract

The objective of this thesis is to present a clear overview of the French immigration situation and the resulting discrimination, with a particular interest in the mechanism of transmission of cultural traits among cultural minorities originating from immigration, who will often be people originating from the Maghreb, as their immigration trajectory is deeply linked with France’s historical colonial behaviour. Our analysis will be focused on a specific cultural feature: Child naming decisions. We will see that this particular cultural trait is strongly affected by discrimination and as a result, the transmission of the first name as a cultural practice is decreasing but continues to be of importance since parents' preferences are strong. We will find that cultural assimilation in terms of child naming decisions differ among cultural minorities and that this phenomenon is the results of difference in their respective coherent and stable preferences. We will try to explain why the differences of preferences could originate from the degree of importance accorded to religion.