DISENFRANCHISED GRIEF: STRATEGIES FOR

ADDRESSING SAME-SEX GRIEF ISSUES

Presenters:

Mary E. Garrison, LCSW, ACSWAssociate Professor of Social Work - Millikin UniversityNASW Illinois Board Member – East Central District Chair

Nancy J. Curtin, Ph.DAssociate Professor of Communication - Millikin UniversityDepartment of Communication Chair

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Session Preview:• Historical Perspective• Case Study• Concepts & Case Connections• Strategies & Techniques

Historical Perspective: • Focus on Gays• Emerging Focus on Lesbians• Our Focus Today: Gays and Lesbians

Case Presentation: Nancy & Jill

Disenfranchised Grief (DG):• Conceptualization of Definition• Examples• Impact of DG on Same-Sex Couples

“Case Connections”

Same-Sex Grieving Partners: Unique Factors• Attitudes about Same-Sex Couples

Discrimination Heteronormativity

• Role of Person & Relationship Disclosure Internal

Definition of relationship External

Degree of “Outness”

Same-Sex Grieving Partners: Unique Factors• Cause/Reason for Death

• Stigma• Resource Availability

• Lack of effective/appropriate resources• Support groups• Counseling • Professional Services

• Result = Disenfranchised Grief

Cultural Competence:

• Social work perspective Assumptions Use of language Labeling/defining relationship Reference to deceased Centrality of relationship

Cultural Competence: • Communication Perspective

Defining/Labeling the Relationship Disclosing the Relationship (degree of

“outness”) Identifying the Context of the Disclosure Managing the Disclosure

Intervention Strategies: Same-sex grieving partners

Language Use Mirror client’s language with the relational

label & feelings. Acknowledgement/Communication of DG

Provide context for client Validate

Validation of Loss Avoid minimization of relationship and

feelings Recognition and Identification of

Communication Consider internal messages Question external messages

Intervention Strategies: Same-sex grieving partners

References:

• Broderick, D. J., Birbilis, J. M. & Steger, M. F. (2008). Lesbians grieving the death of a partner: Recommendations for practice. Journal of Lesbian Studies (12), 2-3, 225-235.

• Doka, K. J. (1989). Disenfranchised grief. In K. J. Doka (Ed.), Disenfranchised Grief: Recognizing the Hidden Sorrow (pp. 3-11). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

• Hunter, S. (2011). Lesbian and Gay Couples: Lives, Issues, and Practice. Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books, Inc.

• McNutt, B. & Yahushko, O. (2013). Disenfranchised grief among lesbian and gay bereaved individuals. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 7(1), 87-116. DOI: 10.1080/15538605.2013.758345.

• National Association of Social Work Standards for Cultural Competence in Social Work Practice. (2001). NASW Press.

References:

• Petronio, S. & Durham, W. T. (2008). Communication privacy management theory: Significance for interpersonal communication. In L. A. Baxter & D. O. Braithwaite (Eds.), Engaging theories in interpersonal communication: Multiple perspectives (pp. 309-322). CA: Sage.

• Rack, J., Burleson, B., Graham, B., Holmstrom, A. (2007). Bereaved adults’ evaluations of grief management messages: Effects of message person centeredness, recipient individual differences, and contextual factors. Conference paper-- International Communication Association Annual Meeting, 1-41.

• VanDenBergh, N. & Crisp, C. (2004). Defining culturally competent practice with sexual minorities: Implications for social work education and practice. Journal of Social Work Education, 40(2), 221-238.

References:

• Walker, J.A. & Prince, T. (2010). Training considerations and suggested counseling interventions for LGBT individuals. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 4:2-17. DOI: 10.1080/155538600903552756

• Whipple, V. (2006). Lesbian Widows: Invisible Grief. New York: Harrington Park Press.

• Wood, J. T. (2009). Gendered Lives. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage.