Hypogamy

The reverse (hypogamy) is rare because with marriage a woman and her future offspring take on the social position of the husband, and so an upper‐class woman marrying a lower‐class man reduces her position as well as that of her children.

Men like Mr. Lim, according to Government officials, often end up marrying "downward" - hypogamy - after they fail to win a woman of their own educational level.