hypergamy
/ˌhaɪpərˈɡeɪmi/
noun
- The practice of marrying or forming a romantic relationship with someone of a higher social class or economic status.
- Modern discussions of hypergamy often focus on economic disparities in dating.
- In some historical societies, hypergamy was common among women seeking upward mobility.
- The novel explores themes of hypergamy and class struggle in 19th-century England.