Assignment on

Conflict Perspective on
Family
as a Social Institution

BY

IMRAN AHMAD SAJID

M.Phil-1st semester
Session: Spring 2009

Submitted To:

Dr. Johar Ali

Department of Sociology

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
WORK
UNIVERSITYOF PESHAWAR
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All praises to ALLAH, the most Merciful, Kind, and Beneficent, and source of all
Knowledge, Wisdom within and beyond our comprehension. all respects and possible tributes
goes to our Holly Profit MUHAMMAD (Swal Allaho Alaihy Wasallam),
who is forever guidance and knowledge for all human beings on this earth.

Thanks to Dr. Johar Ali, the course instructor, who has contributed enthusiasm,
support, sound advice, particularly his supportive attitude was always a source of motivation
for me. He guided me in a polite and cooperative manner at every step.

I am also in debt to all those writers who has written such informative and thought provoking
books on such sociological issues.

Imran Ahmad Sajid

i
 ABSTRACT
In order to study anything, one must begin by making some assumptions about the nature of
what is studied. For example, the ancient Greeks believed that the universe was run according
to the whims of the gods. By contrast, all scientists assume that the universe is orderly, and
operates in certain regular ways which we may be able to discover. Thus, Newton developed
the laws of gravity after observing that apples always fall down, never up. A working set of
assumptions is called a “perspective, an “approach,” or sometimes a “paradigm.”
Sociological perspective is a lens through which sociologist views the society.

For most of sociologist family begins as a need for performing certain essential tasks such as
reproduction, socialization, assignment of role and status etc, and contributing towards the
survival of family and society as a whole While others look at family as a class society in
miniature where one class (man) oppressing another class (woman).

ii
iii
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................................................................................i
ABSTRACT.............................................................................................................. ii
Table of Contents...................................................................................................4
Perspectives in Sociology.......................................................................................1
Structural Functional Perspective.......................................................................2
Conflict Perspective ...........................................................................................3
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective ...................................................................3
What is Marriage and what is Family?...................................................................4
What is Marriage?...............................................................................................4
Emotional commitment:..................................................................................5
Legal commitment:..........................................................................................5
Public announcement:.....................................................................................5
Hope for permanence:.....................................................................................5
Legitimacy of children:....................................................................................5
What is family?................................................................................................... 6
Structure of family..............................................................................................6
Conflict perspective on family...............................................................................7
Sources of conflict in family................................................................................8
Source of power in family ..................................................................................9
Woman as sexual property...............................................................................10
Family as Domestic Slavery of Women.............................................................10
Other approach to family in conflict perspective..............................................11
Critique on Conflict perspective on Family..........................................................11
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 12
References .......................................................................................................... 13
Books................................................................................................................ 13
Electronic Source..............................................................................................13
Internet Websites..........................................................................................13
DVD Encyclopedia.........................................................................................14
Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, and call it a family. Whatever you call it,
whoever you are, you need one.

Jane Howard1

The views of sociologists differ on family. Factionalists view Family as a need for
performing certain essential tasks such as reproduction, socialization, assignment of role and
status etc, and contributing towards the survival of society as a whole-the organic whole. 2
While conflict theorists look at family as a class society in miniature where one class (men)
oppressing another class (women). 3

This assignment is about the second view or perspective on the family. First we will present a
brief of various sociological perspective then we will differentiate between family and
marriage, though both are co-related. When we have completed this we will be talking about
our subject matter-family in conflict perspective- and will make a critical evaluation of the
theory.

Perspectives in Sociology
In order to study anything, one must begin by making some assumptions about the nature of
what is studied. For example, the ancient Greeks believed that the universe was run according
to the whims of the gods. By contrast, all scientists assume that the universe is orderly, and
operates in certain regular ways which we may be able to discover. Thus, Newton developed
the laws of gravity after observing that apples always fall down, never up. A working set of
assumptions is called a “perspective, an “approach,” or sometimes a “paradigm.”4

Sociological perspective is a lens through which sociologist views the society.

The basic insight of sociology is that human behavior is shaped by the groups to which
people belong and by the social interaction that take place within those groups. We are who
1
Knox, D. (1979). Exploring Marriage and the Family. Illinois. Scott Foresman and
Company. P. 3.
2
Hughes, M., Kroehler, C. (2005). Sociology: The Core. 7th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc.
p. 358.
3
Zanden, V., Wilfrid, James. (1990). The Social Experience: An Introduction to sociology.
McGraw Hill Inc. p. 373.
4
Horton, P. B., & Hunt, C. L. (1984). Sociology. 6th ed. Singapore: McGraw Hill book
company. P. 15.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

we are and we behave the way we do because we happen to live in a particular society at a
particular point in space and time. People tend to accept their social world unquestioningly,
as something "natural." But the sociological perspective enables us to see society as a
temporary social product, created by human beings and capable of being changed by them as
well. The sociological perspective invites us to look at our familiar surroundings in a fresh
way. It encourages us to take a new look at the world we have always taken for granted, to
examine our social environment with the same curiosity that we might bring to an exotic
foreign culture.

Our world view is shaped by our personal experience and since people with different social
experiences have different definitions of social reality, sociology helps us to appreciate
viewpoints other than our own and to understand how these viewpoints came into being.

Sociology also helps us understand ourselves better. Without the sociological perspective
(which has been called the "sociological imagination"), people see the world through their
limited experience of a small orbit of family, friends, co-workers. The sociological
imagination allows us to stand apart mentally from our limited experience and see the link
between private concerns and social issues. It permits us to trace the connection between the
patterns and events of our own and the patterns and events of our society.5

The prominent perspectives in sociology are structural-functional perspective, conflict

perspective, symbolic-interaction perspective, social exchange perspective and feminist
perspective which originated from conflict perspective. It will be better to have a brief look
on these perspectives.

Structural Functional Perspective

Structural-functionalist or functionalist take a broad view of society and focus on macro
aspect of social life. They view society as a set of elements or components that are related to
one another in a more or less stable fashion through a period of time. They focus on the parts
of society and identify the structural characteristics of each part much as biologists describe
the principal features of the body’s organs. They then determine what the functions of each
part are.6 Social institutions are viewed as structural parts of society performing various
essential tasks and meeting some needs of the society. Family is a structural component of the
5
Robertson, I. (1981). Sociology. New York. Worth Publishers. Cf. Geneseo State
university of New York. Retrieved 30, May 2008. From
http://www.geneseo.edu/CMS/display.php?page=8431&dpt=sociology
6
Hughes, M., & Kroehler, J. C. (2005) Sociology: The core. 7th Ed. New York: McGraw Hill
company. P. 19.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

society and performs certain essential functions, contributing to the survival of society as a
whole-the organic whole. Society, they hold, is organized due to the consensus on some core
values.

Conflict Perspective
Conflict perspective focuses their attention on society as a whole. Conflict theorists see
society as in a continuous sate of conflict between groups and classes. The struggle for power
and income is a continuous process but one in which many categories of people appear as
opponents-classes, races, nationalities and even the sexes. Society is held together through
the power of dominant groups or classes. The shared values, which functionalist see as glue
for holding society together, do no really form true consensus; instead this is an artificial
consensus in which the dominant groups or classes impose their values and rules upon rest of
the people.7 The source of conflict in society, they hold, is the scarcity of the resources people
require e.g. wealth, prestige and power are always in limited supply and their gain for on e
individual and group are often associated with losses for others. 8

Symbolic Interactionist Perspective

Symbolic interactionism is base on three core assumptions. First, we respond to things in our
environment on the basis of their meanings. Second, meanings are not inherent in things, but
emerge from social interaction. Third, because we are continually interacting, shared cultural
meanings are continually emerging and changing.9 The interactionist perspective is more
concerned with the micro or small-scale aspects of social life. They concentrate their
attention on interaction between individuals and groups. They noted that people interact
mainly through symbols, which include signs, gesture, and most importantly, through written
and spoken words. The word has no inherent meaning. It is simply a noise, but it becomes a
word when people reach agreement that this noise carries a special meaning. Thus “yes,”
“no,” “go,” and thousands of other sounds became symbols as meaning is attached to each.
People do not respond to the world directly; they respond to meanings they impute to the
things and happenings around them; a traffic light, a lineup a ticket window. 10

This assignment is on conflict theory on family as a social institution. Conflict theorists stress
that the society is composed of two conflicting groups and classes. They also view the family

7
Horton, P. B., & Hunt, C. L. (1984). Sociology. 6th ed. Singapore: McGraw Hill book
company. P. 17.
8
Hughes, M., & Kroehler, J. C. (2005). op cit. P. 21.
9
ibid
10
Horton, P. B., & Hunt, C. L. (1984). Op cit. P. 15.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

institution not as a functional part of the society but a class society in miniature where one
group is oppressing the other group. Before this discussion on family we have to be familiar
with what we call the family, what are its various forms and patterns and what is the
difference between marriage and family.

What is Marriage and what is Family?

Marriage and family are two different but correlated things.

What is Marriage?
Marriage [is a] socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to
one another with the expectation of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. It begins with a
ceremony known as a wedding, which formally unites the marriage partners. A marital
relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition,
which defines the partners’ rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may
have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is
certified by the government.11
We may assume that marriage is something we are all familiar with and that every one agrees
on what marriage is. It is a legal relationship between spouses. Let’s define marriage;

[Marriage is] a legally recognized relationship, established by a civil or religious ceremony,

between two people who intend to live together as sexual and domestic partners.
A marriage is a legally recognized union between a man and a woman in which they are
united sexually; cooperate economically; and may give birth to, adopt or rear children. The
union is assumed to be permanent (although in reality it may be dissolved b separation or
divorce). 12
A more simple definition has been given by David Knox that Marriage is a social
relationship in which two adults of the opposite sex make an emotional and legal
commitment to live together.13

Most marriages involve public announcement and are undertaken with the hope of
permanence. Subsequent children of the union are socially and legally recognized as
legitimate. Some more aspects of marriage need exploration.

11
Skolnick, A. (2009). Marriage. Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA:
Microsoft Corporation.
12
Strong, B., et al. (1998). The Marriage and Family Experience. 7th Ed. New York:
Wadsworth Publishing Company. P. 10.
13
Knox, D. (1979). Exploring Marriage and the Family. Illinois: Scott Foresman and
Company. P. 3.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

Emotional commitment:
Most people say they want to be married because they are “in love.” It means marriage is a
relationship sought by two people who want to share their lives together. Marriage is one way
of helping to ensure that in future some one will be caring about you and you will be caring
in return. It is a relationship which provides stable feelings of belongingness. So at its basis
marriage is an emotional commitment to share time and space together. 14

Legal commitment:
Marriage also involves a legal contract. The “Nikah Nama” is a legal document and a proof
of that contract. Both husband and wife sign this contract. This contract can be dissolved
when they want to dissolve it.

• The typical obligations assumed by the wife are;

• Live where the husband decides

• Perform household and domestic duties

• Have sexual relations with her husband

• Total responsibility for child care

In exchange the husband must provide food, clothing and shelter and many of the amenities
of life to wife and children. 15

Public announcement:
The news of marriage is publicized before the event of marriage. It can be through various
formal and informal means.

Hope for permanence:

The marriage is the most binding commitment ever made by couples. It is a common saying
that “don’t leave husband’s house until you are dead.” And “till death do us part.” Marriage
represents a point after which there is no easy turning back.16

Legitimacy of children:
The children born to the couple are socially and legally approved as legitimate and are given
due respect as compared to the invalid and illegitimate children born to the non-married.

14
Knox, D. (1979). Exploring Marriage and the Family. Illinois: Scott Foresman and
Company. P. 5.
15
ibid
16
ibid

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

What is family?
What is the family? This question causes trouble not only for students on the family but for
experts too. Many of us think family as a social unit consisting of married couple and their
children; Mom, Pop, and Kids, living alone in a comfortable home. But this definition is too
restrictive. Most sociologist view family as a social group whose members are related by
ancestry, marriage, or adoption and live together, cooperate economically and care for
young.17

When you ask people who they include as a family member? The list will include;
[alphabetically] aunt, cousin, daughter, father, father in law, foster child, foster parents, grand
father, grand mother, great grand parents, half siblings, mother, mother in law, nephew,
niece, sibling, son, step father, step mother, step siblings, uncles. Most family members are
related by descent, marriage, remarriage or adoption.

The major reason that we have difficulty defining family is that we feel “real family” is the
nuclear family or the traditional family. But the nuclear family is merely an idea or model we
have about families. The traditional family is the middle class nuclear family in which
women’s primary roles are wife and mother and men’s husband and bread winner.
Traditional family exist more in imagination than in reality.

Because we believe that traditional family is the “real family”, we compare all other family
forms against these models. A more contemporary definition is one or more adults related by
blood, marriage, or affiliation who cooperate economically, who may share a common
dwelling place and who may rear children.18

Family is a more or less durable association of husband and wife with or without children. 19 It
is a group of two or more person who are related by blood, marriage or adoption20.

No matter how you define a family, basic characteristics of family is that there is an intimate
relationship among its members and that they have strong sense of belonging together.

Structure of family
Like all other social institutions, family is a system of accepted norms and procedures for
getting some important jobs done. The term family is used in so many ways. A family may be
17
Hughes, M., & Kroehler, J. C. (2005). op cit. P. 330.
18
Strong, B., et al. (1998). The Marriage and Family Experience. 7th Ed. New York:
Wadsworth Publishing Company. P. 14.
19
Shahid, S. M. (1998). Sociology: An Introduction. Lahore: Publishers Emporium. P. 296.
20
Knox, D. (1979). Op cit. P. 8.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

• A group with common ancestors

• A kinship group unite by blood or marriage

• A married couple with or without children

• An unmarried couple with children

• One person with children.

A more sociological definition of family is; “a kinship grouping which provide for the rearing
of children and for certain other human needs.”21 Our major concern is the conflict
perspective on family institution. Family has so many dimensions-forms of family, types of
family, functions, divorce and many others- but we will discuss our subject matter-the
conflict perspective.

Conflict perspective on family

Perspective or theory is a set of general principles or concepts used to explain data and to
make predictions that may be empirically tested. Conflict theory in sociology has its roots in
the work of Karl Marx. Where as functionalist tend to believe that “what is, is good,’ conflict
theorist seem to believe that “what is, is wrong.” Conflict theory holds that life involves
discord. Conflict theorist see society not as basically cooperative but as divided, with
individuals and groups in conflict with each other. They try to identify the competing forces
within society. 22

They view society as divided between conflicting groups with conflicting goals and interests.
Family, in conflict perspective, is seen as a class society in miniature. Functionalists also
view family as a society in miniature whose different members performs various essential
tasks contributing for the survival of the whole family. Husband is a bread winner and wife
takes care of the children and performs domestic tasks. But to conflict theorist family is
compose of conflicting classes-one class (men) oppressing the other class (women). Family is
seen a social arrangement benefiting some people more than others. Fredrick Engel contented
that marriage was the first form of class antagonism in which the well being of one group

21
Horton, P.B., & Hunt, C.L. (1987). Op cit. P. 232.
22
Strong. B., et al. (1998). Op cit. P. 55.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

derived from misery and oppression of another. The motivation for sexual pleasure was the
economic exploitation of woman’s labour.23

Sources of conflict in family

How can we analyze marriages and families in terms of conflict and power? Marriage and
family relationships are base on love and affection, aren’t they? Conflict theorist would agree
that love and affection are important elements in marriages and families. But they believe that
conflict and power are also fundamental.

Family relationships = love & affection + conflict and power

Marriages and families are composed of individuals with different personalities, ideas,
values, tastes, and goals. Each person is not always in harmony with every other person in the
family. Imagine that you are living at home and want to do something your parents don’t
want you to do, such as spend the week-end with a friend they don’t like. They forbid you to
carry out your plan. “As long as you live in this house, you will have to do what we say.”
You argue with them, but in the end you stay home. Why did your parents win the
disagreement? They did so because they had greater power, according to conflict theorists.

Conflict theorists do not believe that conflict is bad; instead, they think it is a natural part of
family life. Families always have disagreements, from small ones, such as what to cook for
dinner, to major ones, such as how to rear children.

Families differ in the number of underlying conflicts of interest, the degree of underlying
hostility, and the nature and extent of the expression of conflict.

Conflict can take the form of competing goals, such as husband wants to buy T.V. set and a
wife wants to pay off credit cards.

Conflict can also occur because of different role expectations; and employed mother wants to
divide housework fifty-fifty, but her husband insists that household chores are “women’s
work.”24

Family is a group of people with differences- in age, sex and personalities. Therefore the
occurrence of conflict is quite natural.

23
Hughes, M., Kroehler, C. (2005). Sociology: The Core. 7th Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill
Inc. p. 359.
24
Strong, B., et al. (1998). Op cit. Pp. 54-55.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

Source of power in family

When conflict occurs, who wins? Family members have different resources and amount of
power. Four important sources of power are;

• Legitimacy

• Money

• Physical coercion and

• Love

When arguments arise in a family, a man may want his way “because I am the head of the
house” or a parent “because I am your mother.” These appeals are based on legitimacy-that
is, the belief that the person is entitled to prevail by right. This is one source of power in
family.

The second source of power is money. It is a powerful source in marriages and families. “As
long as you live in this house….” is a directive based on the power of the purse. Because
parents have greater economic power-man particularly; this economic power translates into
marital power. Those family members who earn a greater sum of family earnings have
greater power than those who earn less or do not earn at all.

Physical coercion is another important source of power. “If you don’t do as I tell you, you
will get a spanking” is one of the most common forms of coercion of children. But physical
abuse of a spouse is also common.

Finally, there is the power of love. Love can be used to coerce someone emotionally, as in “if
you really loved me, you’d do what I ask.” Or love can be a freely given gift, as in the case of
a person’s giving up something important, such as a plan, desire, or career, to enhance a
relationship.

Every one in family has power, although the power may be different and unequal. Adolescent
children, for example, have few economic resources, so they must depend on their parents.
This dependency gives the parents power. But adolescents also have power through the
exercise of personal charm, ingratiating habits, temper tantrums, wheedling, and so on.25

25
Strong, B., et al. (1998). Op cit. Pp. 54-55.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

Woman as sexual property

Sociologist Randall Collins says that historically men have been the “sexual aggressors” and
women the “sexual prizes for men.” Males are dominant due to their greater strength, size,
and aggressiveness. Women have been victimized by smaller size and their vulnerability as
child bearers. Over entire history, women have been taken as a sexual property, taken as
booty in war, used by their fathers in economic bargaining, and considered the property of
their husbands.

According to Collins, men have ordered society so that women are their sexual property.
They claim exclusive sexual rights to a woman much in the manner that they determine
access to economic property like buildings and land and other elements of property. Marriage
becomes a socially enforced contract of sexual property. A woman’s virginity was the
property of her father and her sexuality the property of her husband.

Now that women’s bargaining position has improved due to economic and political changes
in recent years. When they are no longer dependent on and under control of their fathers; they
became potentially free to negotiate their own sexual relationships. But women found that
within the free marriage market they had to trade their sexuality for the economic and status
resources of men. As men have much greater economic resources and status in the society.
Now for women to get these resources and maximize her bargaining power, she has to appear
both as sexually alluring and as inaccessible as possible. She has to hold her sexuality in
reserve as a sort of grand prize that she exchanges for male wealth and status. Under such an
arrangement, femininity and female virginity came to be idealized, and women were placed
on a pedestal, so that an element of sexual repression was built into courtship ties, freeing
themselves from economic dependence on men, they have gained the resources to challenge
the double standard. The sexual bargains they strike can focus less upon marriage and more
upon immediate entertainment, companionship and sexual gratification. 26

Family as Domestic Slavery of Women

Engel concluded that family is a system of domestic slavery of women. Men are keeping
women as slave in their houses in various shapes. As wife her sexuality is limited by men to
only her husband. In conflict perspective the wife’s only duty is fulfill the sexual requirement
and provide sexual pleasure to her husband. The husband in return provides food and fiber.

26
Zanden, V., & Wilfrid, J. (1990). The Social experience: an introduction to sociology.
New York: McGraw Hill Inc. P. 373.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

Therefore they stress that women should be set free so that they can in a better position for
their sexual bargaining. The feminist perspective emerged from this conflict perspective.

Other approach to family in conflict perspective

Although conflict theory emerged from the ideas of Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, other
social scientists have approached the issue of family somewhat differently. Sigmund Freud
and Georg Simmel also advanced a conflict approach to the family. They contended that
intimae relationships inevitably involve antagonism as well as love. More recently,
sociologists have suggested that conflict is a part of all systems and interactions, including
family systems and marital interactions. They see family members as confronting two
conflicting demands; to compete with one another for autonomy, authority, and privilege, and
simultaneously to share one another’s fate in order to survive and even flourish. 27

Critique on Conflict perspective on Family

This theory seems to see whatever is there in the society, every social arrangement, every
social grouping and stratification, is wrong. There is nothing good in the society. Even the
loving couples and the caring parents are not good. The intimacy among family members is
not a positive phenomena but a tool in the members hand to dominate other members.

A number of difficulties arise in conflict theory. First, conflict theory derives from politics, in
which self-interest, egotism, and competition are dominant elements. People’s behavior is
also characterized by self-sacrifice and cooperation. Love is an important quality in
relationships. Conflict theorists don’t often talk about the power of love or bonding; yet the
presence of love and bonding may distinguish the family from all other groups in society. We
often make sacrifice for the sake of those we love. We will defer our own wishes to another’s
desires; we may even sacrifice our lives for a loved one. Don’t we?

Second, conflict theorists assume that differences lead to conflict. Differences can also be
accepted, tolerated or appreciated. Differences do not necessarily imply conflict. Just think
that who cooperate with each other? Whether without differences would there be
cooperation? If there won’t be any difference, with whom would you cooperate?, both would
become the same.

Third, conflict in families is not easily measured or evaluated. Families live much of their
lives privately, and outsiders are not always aware of whatever conflict exists or how
27
Zanden, V., & Wilfrid J. (1990). Op cit. P. 373.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

pervasive it is. Also, much overt conflict is avoided because it is regulated through family
and societal rules. Most children obey their parents, and most spouses, although they may
argue heatedly, don not employ violence.28

Fourth, according to conflict perspective woman is a sexual property and she exchanges her
sexuality in return for wealth and status. What for daughters, sisters or aged people? What
will they do? If women get the freedom to make sexual relationships as they want and the
men are free from women responsibility. Who will take care of children, for aged and other
dependent members of the family? Of course State does share some responsibility but the
primary responsibility of protection of the children and aged is a family responsibility.

Conclusion
Pointing to the conclusion, family is not a social arrangement to oppress one group by the
other group. If the parents do not allow their children to do a particular work, it is not
oppression but it is for their own betterment. The parents have to socialize their children in a
particular way so that they become a normal member of the society. To conflict theorist
families should not be established. Family institution is a domestic slavery for women. How
stupid to think that our mother, daughter, sister, and wife are our slaves. Does it make any
sense? I see family as a functional component of the society performing key role in
socialization of the children and many other essential tasks. It is the family which provides
emotional support. It is the family in which one can found unjealous joy over his or her
success. It is family where one finds enduring sympathy in time of trouble.

28
Strong B, etal. (1998). Opcit. Pp. 55-56.

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

References
Books
Horton, P. B., & Hunt, C.L. (1984). Sociology. 6th ed. Singapore: McGraw
Hill book Companies Inc.

Hughes, M., & Kroehler, C. (2005). Sociology: The Core. 7th ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.

Karnad, S. (1996). Contemporary Issues of Indian Society. Mumbai: Sheth

Publishers Pvt. Ltd.

Knox, D. (1979). Exploring Marriage and the Family. Illinois. Scott

Foresman and Company.

McKie, L. (2005). Families, Violence and Social Change. London: Open

Education Press.

Shahid, S. M. (1998). Sociology: An Introduction. Lahore: Publishers

Emporium.

Strong, B., et al. (1998). The Marriage and Family Experience. 7th ed. New
York: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Zanden, V., & Wilfrid, J. (1990). The Social Experience: An Introduction to

Sociology. New York: McGraw Hill Inc.

Electronic Source
Internet Websites
Robertson, I. (1981). Sociology. New York. Worth Publishers. Cf. Geneseo
State university of New York. Retrieved 30, May 2008, from
http://www.geneseo.edu/CMS/display.php?page=8431&dpt=sociology

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Conflict Perspective on Family as a Social Institution

DVD Encyclopedia
Skolnick, A. (2009). Marriage. Microsoft® Encarta® 2009 [DVD].
Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

Imran Ahmad Sajid Page 14