Which statement represents a common criticism of Murdock's functionalist view of the family?

Which statement represents a common criticism of Murdock's functionalist view of the family?

• A. It presents the family as harmonious and ignores conflict
• B. It overemphasizes conflict and crisis within families
• C. It downplays conflict and ignores exploitation of women
• D. It explains all social changes perfectly

Answer: (C)

Functionalist views of the family describe it as performing essential roles that help society run smoothly, often presenting a picture of family life as orderly and harmonious. A key critique from feminists is that this portrayal hides power dynamics and inequality within the household. The statement that it downplays conflict and ignores exploitation of women targets this specific issue: it points to how patriarchy and unequal gender relations are overlooked in the analysis, even though they shape everyday family life. So, this critique captures the most significant limitation of Murdock’s view—the way it glosses over women’s exploitation and domestic power imbalances. While some argue that the family is portrayed as harmonious, the stronger, more precise point is about gender inequality being ignored.