The tendency for men to marry women who are slightly younger, smaller, and lower in social status while women tend to marry men who are slightly older, larger, and higher in social status is known as

The correct word that fills the blank is:

- The tendency for men to marry women who are slightly younger, smaller, and lower in social status while women tend to marry men who are slightly older, larger, and higher in social status is known as hypergamy.

Explanation:

Hypergamy is the tendency of the women to marry with men that have a better social status, economic situation and, regularly, are older than their, this tendency is explained by the social scientist because the woman is in a position to select among many men and, how in the marriage and specially in the parenting securely she could contribute more than her couple, ensure a more stable relationship, in terms emotional and economic.