Cards (3)

  • The Functionalist perspective has been criticised for idealising the family. Morgan points out that Murdock makes no reference to alternative households to the family, or to disharmony and problems in family relationships.
  • The Functionalist view of the family was dominant in sociology in the 1960s. Since then there's been widespread criticism that neither Murdock nor Parsons look at issues of conflict, class or violence in relation to the family. Some feminists also argue they ignore the issue of exploitation of women.
  • The fact that functionalists overlook the negative aspects of family life makes their position look weak.