Classed Pathways to Marriage: Hometown Ties, College Networks, and Life after Graduation

Objective This article identifies mechanisms through which social class background shapes the marital outcomes of college-going white American women. Background Scholars are interested in relative influences ascriptive and achieved characteristics on mate selection. Research indicates that continues to influence marriage patterns college-educated Americans but does not identify this occurs. Method The study analyzes six waves longitudinal interviews with 45 women from differing backgrounds. first interview was conducted at age 18, when started college a Midwestern public university. final collected 30 supplemented by survey collecting income, education, occupation, debt their spouses. Results Women privileged backgrounds were more likely marry married men who earned substantially than partners less Differences resulted lifelong variation networks, originating childhood. College did interrupt long-standing exclusionary networks. After graduation, shaped where moved, as well whom they worked socialized. Conclusion Higher education contemporary United States may reinforce rather homogamy marriage, even students attend same schools. role higher shaping classed networks is need further study.