Hypergamy: Difference between revisions

Another explanation may be that hypergamy arises from women preferring the most powerful man available to them.  Being physically weak and largely devoid of social power as a result of greater [[Bateman's principle|parental investment]], women need to secure the most powerful male possible for their relationship and offspring to be protected from contending males ([[bodyguard hypothesis]]).<ref>https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4615-5985-6_21</ref> Provided that women have on average more suitors than men, this implies an overall tendency for women to date up, especially when the most powerful/dominant men engage in [[polygyny]] or ''de facto'' polygyny such as serial monogamy (remarrying often), thus effectively hoarding a substantial share of females.