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Marriage Squeeze

Social Dimensions Of The Pool Of Eligibles, The Mating Gradient, Sex Ratios: Measuring The Marriage Squeeze




The phrase marriage squeeze refers to the demographic imbalance in which the number of potential brides does not approximately equal the number of potential grooms. When not everyone has an opportunity to marry, some will be squeezed out of the marriage market. An excess of eligible women is called a female marriage squeeze; an excess of eligible men is called a male marriage squeeze.



Three issues are examined. First, how are potential marriage partners defined and selected?

Second, what causes a marriage squeeze? Third, what are the consequences of a marriage squeeze for family systems and for the people who live in them?


Additional topics

Marriage and Family EncyclopediaRelationships