In Chapter 5 we began to focus on French perceptions of the situation of the wife and of the children in immigrant households. This chapter continues that discussion, paying particular attention to the part played by the French social services in the management of what are conceived to be the problems of the North African woman in France. The first part of the chapter provides an outline account of the structure of the social services. The second part looks at what are termed the “problems of the couple” and is concerned with the North African woman in her roles as wife and mother. The third part focuses on younger women, particularly those in their midteens, and is concerned especially with the father-daughter relationship. The discussion in that section will lead on to Chapter 7, which deals more generally with children, including the position of immigrant children within the school system.

IMMIGRANTS AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES

We have seen already how heavily various branches of the social services are involved with immigrants, in the administrative processes of introduction and regularization, and in applications for an HLM. Although the social services may be marginal in the lives of ordinary French families, for immigrants they play a central part. In many respects the services are one of the principal instruments through which immigrants, especially immigrant families, are monitored by French society.