Challenging Literary Myths: The Reality of Marriage and Class Structure
Jane Austen and renowned authors like Thomas Hardy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Truman Capote may have perpetuated misconceptions about women’s motivations in marriage. The notion that young, attractive women actively seek to “marry up” for wealth and social standing is a recurring theme in literature, from the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice to Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Yet, recent research reveals that this concept is indeed a myth.
The Influence of Hypergamy
According to Professor Gregory Clark, an economic historian at Southern Denmark University, the idea of hypergamy—the pursuit of higher social status through marriage—has become deeply ingrained in societal perceptions. Clark explains, “It is burnt into people’s perceptions.” This theory suggests that while men prioritize physical attractiveness and youth in partners, women are often viewed as placing greater emphasis on social status.
Disproving the Hypergamy Theory
Some scholars even argue that women’s inclination to seek partners with wealth and prestige contributes to a lack of available mates for lower-status men, which has been linked to population decline in the West. However, Clark firmly disagrees, emphasizing, “The data is pretty clear — it’s not happening.”
Working alongside Professor Neil Cummins from the London School of Economics, Clark examined marriage and birth data spanning 33 million marriages and 67 million births in England from 1837 to 2021. By analyzing marriage certificates that included both fathers’ professions, they tracked social mobility across generations. Notably, it wasn’t until May 2021 that mothers’ information was incorporated into marriage records in England.
Findings on Social Mobility and Marriage
The researchers published their findings in the scientific journal PLOS One, concluding that “There is no significant hypergamy by women in English marriage throughout 1837–2021.” Clark stated that these results indicate that class continues to be a primary factor in marital decisions. He remarked, “The astonishing thing for us is that the same kind of matching has been going on since 1837 till now. And there is other evidence that it goes back far earlier. Of all of the social changes that occurred — the emancipation of women, the spread of education — none of that has changed the way that people match.”
Men’s Perspectives on Attraction
While studies indicate that men place greater importance on physical appearance during dating, this tendency diminishes when considering marriage. “It’s very clear in experimental data that men value physical attractiveness in dating more than women do,” Clark explains, referencing studies conducted in online and speed dating contexts. “But when it comes down to business, in marriage what seems to be dominant is the social status of the partners.”
A Broader Look at Social Class
Clark points out that this trend is not exclusive to the UK; similar patterns of social class matching can be observed in Scandinavian countries. He notes, “They’re matching just as strongly by social class.”
The Impact of Social Mobility Efforts
Despite decades of initiatives aimed at enhancing social mobility, the evidence suggests that these efforts have largely been unsuccessful. “If you wanted to create a much more mobile society, you would have people just match randomly or match according to physical attractiveness. If they did that, it would promote much more social mobility. But social status gets transmitted through families,” Clark explains.
Conclusion: Rethinking the Gold-Digger Narrative
Ultimately, the long-standing stereotype of the gold-digging woman—who marries solely for wealth—is debunked. Instead, the institution of marriage appears to reinforce the existing British class structure, reflecting deeper societal truths about class and compatibility.
