Till Death Do We Part
Conflict theory is “the stress that society is composed of groups that are competing with one another for scant resources.” (Henslin, pg. 18) A conflict theorist will often see society as opposing groups with power being a goal for both groups. Karl Marx the founder of this theory believed that the key to history was the conflict between the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat, the rich versus the poor. Basically, Marx implied that in every society a small group controls production and business while another group functions beneath it. Yet as society has progressed so has conflict theory. Conflict is a part of every layer in society; within roles, groups, and sometimes even the entire society.
Within any relationship there can be stressors that add strain to the relationship whether they are the relationship between parent and child, boyfriend and girlfriend, and relationship between spouses. Marriage can be a beautiful disaster, with love, hurt, anger, and happiness all being key emotions in the relationship. But a key factor in marriage is the idea that conflicts arise. In society today the role of men and women are changing, with women gaining increasing amounts of power in the workforce. Today in marriages, men and women are both often working and sharing the responsibility of bills and providing for the house. Often women are pulling two jobs if there are children at home because someone has to take care of the kids. These extras stresses of pulling two jobs and other conflicts from friends or other family members can cause strain between the husband and wife. No longer is the man in control of everything, women try to share in and be a part of “bringing home of the bacon,” this is the power struggle
So what does all this have to do with conflict theory?? The little conflicts that come home from both spouses and the continual struggle over power add conflict to the marriage. The power struggle between the husband and wife is like the Bourgeoisie and the Proletariat with the husband taking the role of the rich and the wife the poor who has to work her way up. This struggle affects the roles of each spouse change and how they interact with one another. “Wives now have more control over the family purse and make more decisions than their husbands.” (Henslin, pg.319) This idea shows already that woman’s roles as wives are changing and gaining more power in the relationship between husband and wife when compared to the early and mid-19th century.
These violent delights have violent ends and in their triumph, like fire and powder which as they kiss consume. (Shakespeare, Act II, Scene VI) Marriage is beautiful in the happy moments and can be a disaster in the scary moments. In those conflicting moments, remember take a deep breath and it will pass.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Tom Smith. Oxford: Globe Theater Press, 2005. Print.

Henslin, James. Essentials of Sociology. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2007. Print.