Lucette Moatti – Modernisation of the ‘grandes écoles’ system: the influence of gender relations on educational pathways

This doctoral thesis aims to conduct a concrete analysis of the experiences of students at elite institutions, in order to understand the influence of gender on the internalisation of professional models specific to positions of power. Situated at the intersection of the sociology of elites and gender studies, it aims to analyse the gender norms conveyed within these educational settings, their effects on gender relations, and the diverse ways in which these norms are internalised. The comparative approach will thus shed light on the variety of factors that encourage the adoption of specific gendered social relations: including the division of academic disciplines, the influence of gender mix ratios, and positioning within the social sphere. Ultimately, it will therefore enable us to examine the gendered division of space within the grandes écoles – an issue that has recently been raised by the institutions themselves.