Marriage as a Social Mobility Strategy
What is the fundamental thinking behind marriage as a means of changing social class? The core reason is that people at the lower end want to uplift their families of origin through marriage. Otherwise, why would they seek upward mobility specifically through marriage?
Class mobility typically only happens during periods of growth, when talent is especially valued. The upper class provides capital and connections, while the lower class provides talent. Through this combination, they leverage the upper class's resource advantages and the lower class's talent advantages to capture market growth. It never works the other way around.
Can you accept that, in a zero-sum environment, you'd still be on the receiving end of cuts?
That's why there's a saying: if a guy comes from a modest family, he should start dating early. In college, before the girl's parents have any chance to intervene, he should quickly secure himself a beautiful, wealthy wife. This might be his only opportunity to rise in class through marriage.
