Rising openness of social barriers? Mate selection in Poland: 1988-2019

National surveys conducted in 1988-2019 are used to examine trends in the association between spouses’ class positions. By applying log-linear and log-multiplicative models, we tested four hypotheses concerning (i) the openness of Poland’s class structure manifested in marital choices, (ii) changes in marital homogamy, (iii) changes in the permeability of class barriers, and (iv) the extent to which educational assortative mating mediates class-based marital selection. The analysis revealed that, in general, assortative mating has slightly decreased, and this trend was paralleled by a decline in homogamy, defined as marrying someone in the same social position. In line with our prediction, a substantial decline in homogamy took place in categories at the bottom and at the top of the social class ladder. With respect to permeability, the shape of distances between social classes remains mainly the same; however, partner selection became less constrained by spouses’ class position, which implies that the barriers to intermarriage are weaker. Moreover, educational resemblance between spouses partly accounts for class-based assortative mating, but it does not eliminate the independent role of class position in shaping marital choices. This article contributes to stratification research by providing updated evidence on the implications of assortative mating for social inequality.