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BJSW Advance Access originally published online on November 8, 2006
British Journal of Social Work 2008 38(2):322-339; doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcl347
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved.

Identity Development and Grieving: The Evolving Processes for Parentally Bereaved Women

Cheryl-Anne Cait

Correspondence to Cheryl-Anne Cait, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada N2L 3C5. E-mail: ccait{at}wlu.ca


  Abstract

This paper is a report of the findings from a qualitative research study that explored how the death of a parent influences female adolescents, with particular focus on women’s evolving identity development. A sample of eighteen women was recruited for the study. Findings highlight that constructing a relationship to the deceased, shifting family dynamics and the ebb and flow of grieving influenced identity development. The women’s development allowed them to more fully recognize their parent’s subjectivity and, in turn, allowed them to see more aspects of themselves. The active process of ‘re-membering’ (Myerhoff, 1982) the deceased through a variety of activities contributed to identity development. Implications for social work practice will be discussed.

Keywords: adolescence, death, identity development, grieving process


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