Homogamy

Homogamy refers to marriage between individuals who are, in some culturally and ethically important way, similar to each other. Homogamy might be based on socio-economic status, class, gender, or religion.

The extent of homogamy (like marrying like) tells us something about how open a society might be. If couples become less closely united on the basis of social distinctions such as wealth or education, then social divisions between couples, and between households, become less pronounced. This process would be a complement of other (if sometimes contradictory) evidence of a growth in social mobility. Thus increasing heterogamy is associated for some analysts with a breaking down of ...