Final answer:
Friedrich Engels is considered the theorist who viewed marriage as an ongoing negotiation between partners, acknowledging unequal power dynamics, especially based on economic dependency. Conflict theorists further examine the division of household labor and its impact on marital power dynamics, as well as power differentials in the wider social discourse on same-sex marriage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theorist who regarded the institution of marriage as an ongoing negotiation between partners while acknowledging the presence of unequal power dynamics under the law was German sociologist Friedrich Engels. Engels suggested that within the family structure, similar to the owner-worker dynamic of the labor force, women assumed the role of the proletariat. This dynamic was rooted in women's dependence on men for economic resources and was exacerbated when women were fully dependent on their spouses for economic support. Contemporary conflict theorists build upon Engels' ideas, analyzing how women becoming wage earners could alter power dynamics in the family, potentially leading to more democratic arrangements even though the domestic burden might still be uneven.
Conflict theorists also examine the division of household labor, finding that disputes over these responsibilities are a frequent source of marital discord since household labor does not carry wages, and therefore, no power. Research indicates increased marital satisfaction for women when men engage more in housework, which may decrease the incidence of conflict (Coltrane 2000). Additionally, within the context of same-sex marriage, conflict theorists view sexuality as an area where power differentials are incredibly pronounced, with debates often pitting dominant ideologies against each other on both social and economic fronts.