Paper short abstract:

This paper is part of PhD project, which adopts a comparative methodology between PALOP young descendants their parents in what concerns representations and life trajectories. The aim is to identify the main generational differences comparing the process of entrance to adulthood in two generations.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is part of ongoing PhD project, named "Gender and generations: processes of transition to adult life of young descendants from Portuguese speaking African countries", which will adopt a comparative methodology between young descendants from PALOP and their parents in what concerns representations and transitions to adulthood.

This analysis gives us the overlapping, density, and sequence of the different life events in the two generations, by identifying the main differences in terms of timing, duration, and order of life's major events, like finishing education, entering the labor market, leaving home, conjugality and parenthood. In that way we can discuss if the condition of being migrant children makes difference in the life trajectory and if in the different spheres, there is a reproduction of parent's trajectories. Another main objective is to understand "how, when and why does it make a difference being male or female" (Eckes and Trautner, 2000:10), taking into account the main gender differences in the different events and transition markers.

This paper aims to present a first reflection on the main generational differences in life courses comparing the process of entrance to adulthood in two generations, based on a literature review from sociology of youth, migration, gender and generation studies and field work preliminary results.