International audienceThis article deals with norms of mutual assistance (towards ascendants and descendants), measured through three different surveys of representative samples of the French population. It describes the differences between men and women – whether or not they are involved in care activities – as well as the variety of situations observed for each sex. The first part deals with the normative differences between men and women, and highlights the higher expectations of men regarding family support, especially towards ascendants. The second part shows how these expectations are linked with the fact that men are less involved in the material and daily constraints of family assistance, but also with their stronger attachment to t...