Homogamy is marriage between individuals who are similar to each other in some culturally significant way, functioning as a form of assortative mating. The basis for such unions can include socioeconomic status, class, gender, caste, ethnicity or religion, as well as age, in the specific case of age homogamy. Beyond marriage itself, the term also describes a broader socialization pattern in which people who are similar to one another tend to associate together. Homogamy is understood as the broader precursor of endogamy, the narrower kinship rule requiring marriage within a specific group: where endogamy operates as an open refusal of partners from outside the group, homogamy describes a more flexible tendency toward similarity between partners without necessarily excluding outsiders by rule.
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Homogamy, marriage between partners of similar social characteristics, overlaps with but is broader than endogamy, which specifically requires marriage within a bounded group such as a caste, clan or religion.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.