De la « deuxième génération » aux descendants d’immigrés maghrébins

Abstract

In this article we reflect on the way sociologists have construed the idea of generation in the field of migration studies. From A. Sayads seminal work on Algerian immigrants into France to my own empirical research and the reflections inspired by the expression « second generation », we look at what this notion brings in its wake, what it induces and what problems it creates, more particularly because it contributes to homogenizing an entire social group. In fine, our discussion allows us to distinguish between the notion of generation and the generational approach. For whereas the notion raises numerous questions, the approach permits one to modify the way research in this field has been theorized so far. Doing so opens up rich epistemological perspectives.

Keywords

• family
• second generation
• generationnel approach
• immigration
• trajectories