[4] She studied at Sciences Po (1975),[5] and then pursued a diploma in Sociology at the Instituts d'études politiques (IEP) in Paris (1976).

Her thesis, entitled "L'expression des problèmes féminins dans les syndicats et à travers les conflits sociaux" (The expression of women's problems in unions and through social conflicts)[6] was supervised by Jean-Daniel Reynaud.

It was published in 1979 under the title, Les syndicats à l’épreuve du féminisme (Unions put to the test by feminism).

[7] Maruani began her career in 1976 as a research fellow at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers (CNAM),[8] in the sociology of work laboratory.

[4] She is one of the pioneers in France and internationally in the field of studies crossing sociology and gender applied to questions of work and employment.