‘Compare and Contrast two theories of the family’

‘Compare and Contrast two theories of the family’

The family is regarded by many sociologists as the cornerstone of society. It is frequently described as the basic unit of social organization. The functionalist theory of the family is known as consensus theory. The Marxist theory is known as conflict theory.
Functionalist theories of society are based on the assumption that society operates on the basis of consensus (agreement) and that there is a tendency towards equilibrium (balance) between the various parts of society so that they work together harmoniously. Functionalists tend to assume that if a social institution exists then it must have a function or a purpose. The family is therefore often examined in the terms of the functions it performs for the benefit of society and the individual.
In a study on the family George Peter Murdock (Social Structure 1949) studied 250 societies, he came to the conclusion that the "nuclear family is a universal human social grouping.....