Hypergamy (the action of marrying or forming a sexual relationship with a person of a superior sociological or educational background) seems to be becoming less important to women in general. This trend seems to be a response to women’s accumulation of resource and status of their own over the past century.

What this pattern suggests is that hypergamy is more a response to resource scarcity, and less a biological mating drive. Hypergamy in social mammals actually reflects this idea. Female mate preferences are not as easy to study as male mate preferences because as female mammals are often smaller, they have less control over mating.

This is where hypergamy comes in. If a status hierarchy exists in which resources/safety/territory is accessible through an older male, she will choose an older male to mate with, and often secretly mate with young, genetically fit males if she can get away with it. Likewise, if she’s does not have to contend with resource scarcity and has mate choice, she will almost always choose a young male of the best genetic match.

Animals, and mammals in particular, have a base level biological drive to mate with the best genetic match possible, which basically adds up to youth and beauty. We have recognized this drive in men for a long time, but I think it does men a disservice to sugarcoat its existence in women as well, especially with how quickly things have shifted with women’s gains in access and resources. I’ll link sources in a comment below!