[1][2][3] At the age of 16, after the death of her father, Descarries left school so that her family could afford her brother's medical training.

Descarries found work as a legal secretary then as a travel agent, then left the workforce to care for her children.

With a scholarly interest in women's issues and feminism, Descarries went on to earn undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in sociology from the Université de Montréal.

The book addressed the sexual division of labour and social reproduction in workplaces and schools in Quebec.

[2][3] Descarries served as the scientific committee director for the 7th International Congress of Feminist Research in Francophonie [fr], held in Montreal in 2015.