Educational Assortative Mating and Its Impact on Marital Quality in China

This study examines the relationship between educational assortative mating and marital quality among Shanghai residents born in the 1980s, against the backdrop of gender reversal in higher education and the increasing prevalence of educational hypogamy in China. Utilizing the data of 2016 Fudan Yangtze River Delta Social Transformation Survey, the research investigates the effects of educational homogamy and hypogamy on marital quality through a gendered perspective. The findings reveal that both patterns negatively impact women’s marital satisfaction, with exerting no significant influence on men’s experiences. The study concludes that traditional educational matching profoundly shapes Chinese women’s perceptions and participation in marriage, highlighting the importance of incorporating educational dynamics into analyses of marital relationships, especially for women. underscores the necessity for ongoing societal progress to promote gender equality within marital relationships.