Understanding Loss and Grief for Women: A New Perspective on Their Pain and Healing
208
Understanding Loss and Grief for Women: A New Perspective on Their Pain and Healing
208eBook
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Overview
Women's grief is often a complex phenomenon—a natural, normal experience, but one that can seriously impact everyone—female or male—at every stage of life. Understanding Loss and Grief for Women: A New Perspective on Their Pain and Healing provides a way to look at how women experience loss through the lens of their socially constructed roles, and in light of the theories and practice of grief therapy and support.
The book begins by explaining the social construction of women's traditional, transitional, and modern/postmodern roles, and then addresses the social construction of grief theory and practice in past eras and modern society. Several case studies enable readers to see how social constructs shape women's responses to various causes of grief, such as the death of a spouse or partner, child, marriage (divorce), and career (retirement). The final section of the book examines the health impacts of grief, offers suggestions to ameliorate negative health impacts, and emphasizes how loss and grief for women can be used as opportunities for self-growth.
This book serves all members of the general population as well as educators, academics, scientists, and students of disciplines such as psychology, psychotherapy, medicine, sociology, and women's studies. It will enable all women to better understand, deal with, and heal from their loss and grief experience. Male readers will empathize with what their spouses/partners, mothers, grandmothers, siblings, and friends are experiencing in loss and grief and understand how to support healthy transition through grief to resolution. The community at large and care providers will learn how to create a more nurturing and supportive environment for women's grief response.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9798216159414 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Bloomsbury Publishing |
| Publication date: | 05/18/2017 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 208 |
| File size: | 12 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
| Age Range: | 7 - 17 Years |
About the Author
Peggy A. Howard, PhD, holds a doctorate in policy and administration from the University of Alberta, Canada. Since 1994, she has been a private-sector consultant whose expertise lies in the design and implementation of multiyear, multilevel evaluations in health and social service sectors.
Table of Contents
PrefaceAcknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 The Social Construction of Women's Roles (Traditional, Transitional, Modern/Postmodern)
Chapter 2 The Social Construction of Grief
Chapter 3 Women's Socially Constructed Grief Response
Chapter 4 The Complexity of Grief
Chapter 5 Factors Influencing Grief Response
Chapter 6 Death of a Spouse or Partner: A Widow's Grief
Chapter 7 Death of a Marriage: Divorce Grief
Chapter 8 Death of a Child: A Mother's Loss and Grief
Chapter 9 Retirement Loss and Grief
Chapter 10 Health Impacts of Grief
Chapter 11 Beginnings and Reconciliations
Appendix: Summary of Feminist Movements
References
Index
What People are Saying About This
"This is an important book that informs our understanding of women's loss and grief, and points to proactive approaches to healing."
"For women responding to or preparing for loss, and for anyone desiring to support others coping with loss, this thoughtful book will help the reader understand women’s individual responses to grief, appreciate their personal resiliency, and have hope for eventual recovery. Buckingham and Howard compellingly present the grieving process for women as a healthy, transformational opportunity. From the earliest days of Hospice care in the U.S., Robert Buckingham has effectively addressed the most difficult topics in thanatology. Now, he and coauthor Peggy Howard bring to light a long-neglected aspect of the discussion in this engaging and important book."
"As one of the founders of Hospice in the United States, Dr. Buckingham along with his coauthor, Dr. Peggy Howard, bring a fresh and needed perspective to the literature which broadens the reader’s understanding of the universal experience of loss and grief. The attention given to the social construction of grief viewed from a cultural perspective gives an insightful lens through which to view changing roles of women today and differing responses to loss and grief of significant relationships and social identities. The case studies presented illustrate well the journey of grief. A must-read for health professionals and all of us who inevitably travel this road."
"This is a ‘must-read’ for people wanting an excellent guide to understanding women, loss, and grief. The reader will garner a greater understanding of the impact of loss, and clearer insights and tools, to support women and their mindfulness of the distinctive character of their own grieving."
“There are many mediators of the mourning process of which gender is an important one. Gender responses to loss are fashioned and shaped by both culture and history. In this book Buckingham and Howard lead the reader to think about women’s grief and how gender affects their response to loss, not only by death but also to life losses such as divorce, health changes, and retirement. This book provides a perspective for both men and women to understand how women integrate loss into their lives as we emerge into a postmodern age.”
"The authors have deftly tackled a complex but very important subject. Should be required reading for all primary and palliative care doctors."
"This impressive book is an excellent addition to the existing literature on critical issues facing women who are dealing with loss and grief. The text is extremely helpful in assisting women in transition through their grief to find resolution, peace, and growth through a very difficult time in their lives."
"'Everyone hugs you when your husband dies. Very few hug you when you get a divorce,' says a bereaved woman. Yet, undeniably, both are experiences of loss that may lead to profound grief. Peggy Howard and Robert Buckingham have written an eloquent and thoughtful text that gives surprising insights into the history, psychology, and social complexities of women’s experiences of various kinds of grief. While loss is levitas that lessens life, grief is gravitas that makes heavier. Howard and Buckingham show how loss, and the grief it causes, may seriously unsettle but they also may deepen and strengthen us."
"Perspective is a fresh look at understanding the impact and loss and grief of women in our culture. While grief is complicated for everyone, the unique role women have in dealing with their own losses, as well as those of their loved ones, puts additional pressures on women to cope quickly and to help others in need. I recommend this book without hesitation. As a clinician who has been working with grief and loss for many years, this book is a must-read."
"This book makes a timely and important contribution to our ways of understanding and engaging grief. Drs. Buckingham and Howard have developed an excellent tool to assist women with moving through our grief more wholly, increasing the possibilities for healing and growth."
"Modern western societies have only recently been willing to talk openly about death and dying, loss of loved ones, palliative care and grieving. This book offers insights within the historical and gender context as to why this has been so challenging and why it is time to rethink our societal and personal acceptance of death, dying and grief. This is not only important reading for women suffering or facing the loss of a loved one but also for the people around her. The more men that read this book the greater will be their own understanding of the women close to them and the issues they face not only in the context of grief but also in life generally."
"Public Health has to recognize and study all of the factors which can affect the wellbeing of vulnerable communities. If we better understand loss and grief for women, we will be better equipped to help them. These authors’ analysis is undoubtedly a precious contribution."
"Buckingham and Howard’s book provides an important contribution to the study of bereavement, with an insightful gender-specific perspective on coping with loss and grief. Because of the position women hold in society and their social responsibility, the way they experience loss is unique. By looking at grief through this gendered prism, we have more clarity on how to support women and the people they support. I recommend this book to all who have suffered a loss and those who are close to them."
"This book is relevant to women and men alike in that it details the historical and socio-structural account of our post-modern societies. The key message that grief is largely determined by cultural and gender specific norms, offers a broader understanding of the complexity and individuality of grief and mourning, as well as the intergenerational effects of grief suppression."