criticisms of the functionalist view

what do functionalists paint the family out to be?

they paint a rosy picture of family life and ignore the dark side of the family e.g conflict, abuse

what do feminists criticise?

feminists argue that Murdock fails to consider the fact that the family is a form of patriarchal oppression and exploitation of women

what does Murdock ignore about the economic function?

ignores that families may be in poverty and cannot provide for their members

how does the marxist Zaretsky criticise Parsons warm bath theory?

the family isn’t a place for relaxation for the working class, instead it prepares them for another day of being exploited by capitalism

what criticism does the marxist-feminist Fran Ansley provide, in relation to the warm bath theory?

women are the “takers of shit” , absorbing men’s frustrations and protecting the ruling class

how does Laslett criticise Parsons?

Laslett found that pre-industrial households were often made up of nuclear families rather than extended families

how does Anderson criticise Parsons?

Anderson found that early industrial families were more likely to be extended, as people moved in with relatives when they migrated to towns