« It took 10,000 km away between us to finally put words on what we have experienced » – Liberation

If the couple remains, among 18-29 year olds, the dominant relational form, one in seven of them knew, during the year 2023, what sociologist Marie Bergström calls « A followed relationship », be the relationship « Who does not merge into the couple or in the stories of an evening » (2). Another term to designate this relational in-between: « Situationship » -Anglo-Saxon term that the sociologist still deems little used in everyday language (3) but which is cheerfully on social networks. Today, Mariama (1), 30, financial analyst in Paris, says she never wants to relive this kind of configuration again.

“Two years ago, I was working in an audit firm. I am 28 years old. One day, while I chat with one of the host hostesses, I see a guy passing and I fall steep crazy from him even though I do not know him. His name is Nabil (1), has just been hired by my box and is a little younger than me. He must be 25 years old, if I remember correctly. At that time, I feel good about my skin and I do not hesitate for a second to offer him to have a drink after work. We discuss everything and nothing. He is intelligent, very large, very beautiful and completely capsizes me. It is of North African origin but looks like an Italy