Answer:
Strength:
The functionalist approach illustrates how a social institution can work at two different levels - both fulfilling the needs of each individual and meeting the needs of the whole society at the same time
Weakness:
The functionalist approach is too optimistic. It suggests that family life
Is always good and happy. Cheal (2002) claims that functional relationships can easily slip into damaging relationships. Child abuse is a major social problem in the UK - 1 in 14 children have been physically abused, according to NSPCC in 2011.
Strength:
Functionalists show how each of the parts of society are interrelated, each contributing to the well-being of society.
Weakness:
This perspective tends to ignore the conflict and exploitation stressed by Marxists.
Strength:
It provides a very harmonious view of society and the family.
Weakness:
By stressing the idea that the nuclear family is universal, this approach ignores other types of Family and household and seems to assume that they are inadequate, such as:
Lone-parent families and matrifocal families. However, many people still have a desire to live in the kind of nuclear households outlined by Murdock and Parsons. Also many social policy initiatives stemming from conservative politicians have their origin in functionalist theories.
Strength:
This approach stresses the great importance of the family, as it is a basic building block of society.
Weakness:
It does not consider the ways in which functions may be performed by other institutions, such as the education system,
Rather than by the family. Fletcher (1988) argues that Parsons was wrong to suggest that the family had lost its functions during industrialisation, as it still continues to provide social, economic and educational support.
Strength:
The family is seen as very important in passing on the shared norms and values which are universal in society.
Weakness:
Feminists are critical of this approach because it assumes that gender roles are fixed, ignoring the changes that have taken place.
Feminists also argue that the family serves the needs of men and oppresses women.
