“Don’t Get Above Yourself ”: Heterosexual Cross-Class Couples Are Viewed Less Favorably

Abstract

We examined perceptions of cross-class heterosexual couples, that is, couples where couple members differ in social class. Informed by social dominance theory, system justification theory, and equity theory, we predicted that (a) cross- (vs. same-) class couples would be perceived more negatively, (b) cross-class couples with the woman (vs. the man) in the higher class position would be evaluated more negatively, and (c) same-class low-low (vs. high-high) couples would be evaluated more negatively. We examined perceptions of cross-income, cross-education, and cross-occupation status relationships. We found support for our predicted patterns, with some exceptions. In general, high-high class couples were preferred. In three of four studies, a higher-class woman paired with a lower-class man was evaluated most negatively of all couples. Recognition of this prejudice may explain challenges faced by certain couples and couple members; as such, implications for clinicians and counselors are discussed. Further, our research generates directions for future research. Additional online materials for this article are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684319878459

Does National Context Matter When Women Surpass Their Partner in Status?

“…However, non-traditional couples face social and economic penalties as they are perceived more negatively by others ( Hettinger et al, 2014 ; MacInnis and Buliga, 2019 ; Vink et al, 2021b ). Non-traditional couples themselves experience more negative relationship outcomes than couples in traditional relationships ( Vink et al, 2021b ).…”

“…People also expect men to take on higher status roles, whereas they expect women to take on lower status roles ( Rudman et al, 2012 ). Men and women who violate gender stereotypes prescribing that the man should have the higher status role within the relationship are at risk of social penalties ( Hettinger et al, 2014 ; MacInnis and Buliga, 2019 ; Vink et al, 2021b ). Others outside the relationships expect a woman with a higher status profession than her male partner to be the dominant one in their relationship and therefore dislike her (i.e., dominance penalty).…”

May your wealth be easily divisible by two: marital dissolution and personal wealth of German men and women over the life course

“…The desire for social conformity has been shown to lead survey respondents to over-report socially favourable behaviour and under-report less favourable ones (DeMaio, 1985;Krumpal, 2013). Although women made substantial gains in their educational achievements and economic independence, social norms still emphasise the traditional male-breadwinner marriage (MacInnis & Buliga, 2020). For the reporting of income within couples, recent working papers by Roth and Slotwinski (2020) and Murray-Close and Heggeness (2019) compared the self-reported income of spouses with individuals' income reports in administrative data or matched administrative data.…”

Who brings home the bacon?

“…Men and women who threaten the current gender hierarchy -in which men are associated with high status and women with low status-face prejudice and social penalties (Rudman et al, 2012;Eagly & Karau, 2002;Heilman & Okimoto, 2007;Heilman & Wallen, 2010). This process is called 'backlash' and also operates when people evaluate romantic relationships where the woman has surpassed her male partner in societal status (MacInnis & Buliga, 2019;Hettinger, Hutchinson, & Bosson, 2014; Vink, Derks, Ellemers, & Van der Lippe, submitted). Specifically, people expect a woman with a higher status profession than her male partner to be the dominant one in their relationship and therefore dislike her (i.e., dominance penalty), whereas they expect a man with lower status than his partner to be the weak one in their relationship and therefore disrespect him (i.e., weakness penalty; Vink, Derks, Ellemers, & Van der Lippe, submitted).…”

“…Recent work has shown that backlash also occurs when men and women violate gender stereotypes prescribing that the man should have the higher status role within the relationship (Vink, Derks, Ellemers, & Van der Lippe, submitted;MacInnis & Buliga, 2019;Hettinger, Hutchinson, & Bosson, 2014;Brescoll & Uhlmann, 2005;Chaney, Rudman, Fetterolf, & Young, 2017). Others outside the relationships expect a woman with a higher status profession than her male partner to be the dominant one in their relationship and therefore dislike her (i.e., dominance penalty), whereas they expect a man with lower status than his partner to be the weak one in their relationship and therefore disrespect him (i.e., weakness penalty; Vink, Derks, Ellemers, & Van der Lippe, submitted).…”