That doesn't make you hypergamous though. You're not dating up (when you do) to improve your circumstances, but to not degrade your circumstances by pairing with an emotionally abusive and jealous douchebag.

That's gonna be the case for more instances of claims of "gold digger" or 'hypergamy" than not.

Then, men bitch and .oan about women being naturally hyoergamous but deny the tendency in themselves by making it about money. Sure, money gives status. But so does having a gorgeous woman on your arm. And that's where men are hypergamous. They always go after the most beautiful women and easily discard or never notice the girl next door types.