Beliefs about Marital Compatibility in the United States

• In Event: Family Section Open Call Paper Session

Abstract

Sociologists have long been interested in who marries whom as a reflection of group boundaries and social norms. Although past research has frequently studied marital selection behavior, few studies have examined Americans’ beliefs about this process. These public beliefs offer a glimpse into broader cultural models regarding marriage, gender, and race, and also serve as social constraints that guide individuals’ own spouse selection. The present study approaches this challenge by implementing a conjoint survey experiment that examines people’s beliefs on marital compatibility in a nationally representative sample of Americans. Drawing on modernization, gender-based, and status-exchange theories, I test a series of hypotheses on how couples’ relative characteristics––earnings, education, and race––affect these beliefs. Main findings indicate that homogamous couples in terms of education, income, and religion are perceived to be the most suitable for marriage. In contrast, couples in which women earn more or are more educated than their partners are deemed as less suitable. These results have implications for ongoing research on changing gendered norms surrounding union formation.

Author

• Daniela Urbina, University of Southern California