How did patriarchal conjugal norms become a family model in Côte d'Ivoire after independence? How did this model lead to a differentiated inclusion of men and women in citizenship?This work first illustrates the diversity of Ivorian and French actors who debated family norms prior to their formalization in the Civil Code of 1964. Colonial administrators, Ivorian deputies and trade unionists, Christian activists, as well as social science scholars, all supported the authority of fathers over nuclear families, arguing that this family structure was particularly conducive to economic development.The originality of this account lies in its examination of the application of family legislation within administrative bodies, illustrating how state-imposed gendered expectations led to differentiated participation of men and women. The promotion of new gender roles—provider masculinity and domestic femininity, supported by a romantic ideal—was unfavorable to women's entry into wage labor, confining them instead to services focused on their reproductive roles. However, this process of state redistribution in favor of salaried men and household heads did not occur without disputes, turning couples into arenas of conflict.This work will be of interest to students and scholars in history, gender studies, African studies, and political science, as well as experts in development.