Data from the French Continuous Demographic Sample are used to examine the factors that affect the attainment of an executive position by age 30. "They depend to a large extent on the social standing of the father, with the exception that children of primary school teachers stand a very good chance of securing a senior position. The cultural level of the family of origin and the qualifications of the given individual are also decisive factors. Yet women are far from holding management positions in keeping with their qualifications despite an apparent improvement in their situation in recent generations. Living with an executive as part of a couple is still a way for them to offset this downgrading." (EXCERPT)