Bereavement, gender, and cyberspace: A content analysis of parents' memorials to their children

    Authors

    G. W. Musambira; S. O. Hastings;J. D. Hoover

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Omega-J. Death Dying

    Keywords

    WORLD-WIDE-WEB; GRIEF; DEATH; Psychology, Multidisciplinary; Social Sciences, Biomedical

    Abstract

    The study investigated how two distinct perspectives apply to the role of gender in parents' memorials on The Compassionate Friends (TCF) electronic bulletin board; cyberspace as merely a mirror of societal gendered patterns of bereavement, and cyberspace as a medium or context in which societal gendered patterns of bereavement are neutralized. Data were evaluated to determine to what extent gender differences exist concerning instrumental versus intuitive styles of bereavement. Analytic categories used in assessing gender differences in parental bereavement style included the following: invoking spirituality, directing messages to the deceased, artistic expressions, and special powers accorded to the deceased. With some exceptions, the findings supported the perspective emphasizing the gender neutralizing aspects of cyberspace parental bereavement for the population studied.

    Journal Title

    Omega-Journal of Death and Dying

    Volume

    54

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2006

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    263

    Last Page

    279

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000249113500001

    ISSN

    0030-2228

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