hypogamy

From hypo- +‎ -gamy.

hypogamy (uncountable)

1. The seeking of a spouse of lower socioeconomic status or caste than oneself.
   • 1972 August 27, Sheila K. Johnson, “A woman anthropologist offers a solution to the woman problem”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     The reverse (hypogamy) is rare because with marriage a woman and her future offspring take on the social position of the husband, and so an upper‐class woman marrying a lower‐class man reduces her position as well as that of her children.

   • 1988 July 11, Seth Mydans, “Singapore Journal; How to Marry Up, and Avoid the Frogs and Nerds”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     Men like Mr. Lim, according to Government officials, often end up marrying "downward" - hypogamy - after they fail to win a woman of their own educational level.

• marrying down (colloquial expression)

• hypergamy