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No End to Hypergamy when Considering the Full Married Population
Daniela R Urbina1, Margaret Frye2, Sara Lopus3
1University of Oxford, Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Department of Sociology.
Population and Development Review
|February 5, 2025
Summary
Contrary to previous research, this study finds that educational hypergamy (women marrying men with higher education) has increased in Latin America. Educational homogamy (marrying someone with equal education) has significantly declined.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Demography
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Recent decades show increased female educational attainment globally.
- Previous studies indicated declining rates of hypergamy (women marrying 'up').
- Prior analyses excluded educational homogamy (equal education pairings).
Purpose of the Study:
- To reassess hypergamy prevalence by including all marriage types, not just unequal pairings.
- To analyze trends in educational hypergamy and homogamy in Latin America.
- To understand the impact of women's educational gains on marriage patterns.
Main Methods:
- Utilized census microdata from 16 Latin American countries.
- Analyzed data across 105 birth cohorts to track changes over time.
- Compared educational attainment between spouses, including homogamous and hypergamous/hypogamous pairings.
Main Results:
- Educational hypergamy has increased in most Latin American countries over time.
- Hypergamy rates remained relatively stable across varying levels of female educational advantage.
- Educational homogamy has significantly declined across countries and educational advantage levels.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of hypergamy should be assessed in relation to all marriages, not just unequal ones.
- Women's educational advancements in Latin America correlate with increased hypergamy and decreased homogamy.
- The study highlights the importance of including homogamy for a comprehensive understanding of educational marriage trends.
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