Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Marrying Up
Aug 24, 2022
Explore the fascinating concept of hypergamy, where women seek higher socioeconomic status through marriage. Dive into the cultural dynamics influencing these choices and how globalization affects partner availability. Analyze marriage styles like hypogamy and homogamy, enriched with pop culture anecdotes. Discover the evolution of marital dynamics in light of education and economic disparities, particularly the rising trend of women out-earning their partners. Lastly, understand the implications of the gender pay gap on relationship preferences.
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Marrying Up
- "Marrying up" is often associated with misogynistic terms like "gold-digging" and "trophy wife".
- It involves a woman exchanging attributes, usually looks, for higher socioeconomic status through marriage.
Women and Social Mobility
- Historically, marrying up was a way for women to improve their social standing, particularly when their options were limited.
- This was especially true in societies where women couldn't work outside the home.
The Marriage Squeeze
- Widespread hypergamy creates a marriage squeeze at the top and bottom of the social ladder.
- Women at the top and men at the bottom struggle to find partners due to the lack of upward/downward mobility.