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Functionalism and Marxism are both known to be structural perspectives, due to the fact that they concentrate on a group of people rather than on the individual himself. Although very similar the two are different in very distinct ways, in fact Functionalism falls under the sub-heading of consensus structuralism, while Marxism falls under the sub-heading of conflict structuralism. As the sub-headings suggest they may be considered as opposites in various ways. The similarities and differences …

…has to do things according to their roles, and no one has any choice to make as the pressures made on them by society are too strong to be overcome. Functionalism and Marxism may be summed up together with to main points. They both believe in a structure, something external, which influences people and makes them behave in a certain way and they both generalise, dividing society into groups rather than focusing on the individual.