Loss and grievingan autobiographical exploration of grieving the death of my father
Date
2002
Authors
Parizeau, Denyse Marie
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Abstract
This autobiograpbical inquiry explores personal and social aspects of grieving a death, with the focus on grieving the death of my father. The purpose of the inquiry was to broaden an understanding of loss and grieving by exploring as deeply as possible a personal process of grieving. An autobiographical narrative approach enabled me to examine in the site of my own life issues of grief that extend beyond the personal and to illuminate universal aspects of grieving. This inquiry examines Western societal discourses that contribute to our difficulties in supporting ourselves and others in our personal processes of grieving, and discusses how we may more effectively support others and ourselves in grieving a death. It examines how theories of grieving produced by the dominant discourse which values results and "resolution" over the process(ing) of grief may impose a structure that negatively impacts bereaved persons by defining for them what must be accomplished and urging them to resolve grief within predefined parameters. Utilizing narratives, poems, and reflective analysis, issues, emotions, and experiences of grieving that have remained largely unacknowledged, dismissed, marginalized, and silenced by society and individuals are identified, discussed, and opened for further reflection and inquiry. The inquiry highlights the importance of supporting grieving persons to trust in and to retain their own authority in their grieving process. Finally, it explores some of the challenges and affirms the importance of becoming more emotionally present with one's own and others' grief.