Do we marry within our socio-economic class?

I think we're more likely to interact within our socio-economic groups and thereby marry within them. My parents were both born here, but children of immigrants to this country, both raised their way to middle class through education, hard work and maybe some lucky breaks, but many lucky breaks they worked themselves toward.

My wife was born here, but to parents that had only been in this country for about a year, neither had any formal education. They stressed education, working hard at school. For me, less stress on it, but significant expectation of a college degree.

My wife and I had different routes to education, but neither much values it other than a way to how it allows us to do a job we love and make a livable wage. We're both teachers. For her, it was a socio-economic rise, for me, pretty much where my parents are. But our connection is not the socio-economic as much as shared interests, values and experiences that our similar socio-economics led us to and a chance for exposure.

On a side note, I most definitely did not marry my mother, BUT I may have married a sexy beautiful version of my sister/best friend. (YIKES!)

I have a pretty strong belief that girls marry guys like their fathers. Maybe boys marry girls like their mothers. But I have a stronger belief and have even observed how we stay pretty much within our socio-economic class. I've seen it over and over.

Facebook is interesting in that regard. As we get older, we can see how life plays itself out. I had a classmate who's father was a surgeon. All 3 kids went to upper tier schools. The daughters married a surgeon and a dentist. The son became a surgeon.

What have you observed?

My sister... yes.... Me... Not so much. I am good luck chuck anyway. So I am sure I get kudos for helping other chicks find the love of their life.

I believe you are wrong.

winners gravitate towards winners and vice versa.

I TOTALLY AGREE!!

Agree. I'm the youngest of 7, my wife the youngest of 10. Each of the 17 came friom the same socio-economic class, yet each married differently (and what I mean here is that some married big losers). So winners attract and are attracted to winners.

Personally, I married for love. There is an economic gap between our families but its never been an issue for us because we have vary similar values. goals and ambitions.

For the record, I am nothing like her father and she is nothing like my mother.

I can understand the idea of staying within the same class level. I, on the other hand, met and am now engaged to some one who grew up in poverty. I have always been in the upper middle class, and to me the idea of being with someone who never knew the luxuries I did fascinated and thrilled me. Two years later, we find it difficult to agree on any financial basis. While he is frugal and almost money hungry in a sense, I grew up with the idea that money was easy to find and easier to spend. His social class has given him this idea that he doesn't belong above a certain level, that ambitions are not wise. It is very interesting to see. Irregardless, he is a wonderful person, and I don't care if he grew up in Beverly Hills or slums in Mexico.

While I would be honored to be half the woman his mother is, he is nothing like my demeaning, arrogant prick of a father.

I believe you are wrong.

I second this belief.

You marry who you love or all fails.

We aren't in a caste system and I find the notion that we might be, revolting.

Amen!

I think there are a lot of factors that go into our attractions. I grew up with the silver spoon, my sister is married to a multi-millionaire...they live in different states..yeah. I on the other hand chose happiness over money...sometimes I have neither. And I'd have to say I will not marry again anyway...but no, I tend to find men in my own se class to be stuck up jerks, not all, but enough to make me not even look....and so I'm dating a construction worker. I support myself and my kids on my own and live paycheck to paycheck. I've had men try and impress me with money and try and tempt me with trips..but if I'm not attracted, I'm not attracted. I've always kinda thought my sister sold herself to the highest bidder, she didn't of course..but why stay married if you don't want to live in the same state?