What makes the experience of bereavement through military death different? by Liz Rolls
19
WHAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE OF BEREAVEMENT THROUGH MILITARY DEATH DIFFERENT? Dr. Liz Rolls with Dr Gillian Chowns and Dr Mairi Harper Honorary Research Fellow, University of Gloucestershire Independent Researcher: Pegasus Projects BSA: Death, Inequality and Social Difference 14 November 2014
-
Upload
british-sociological-association -
Category
Education
-
view
98 -
download
1
Transcript of What makes the experience of bereavement through military death different? by Liz Rolls
WHAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE OF BEREAVEMENT THROUGH MILITARY DEATH DIFFERENT?
Dr. Liz Rolls
with Dr Gillian Chowns and Dr Mairi Harper
Honorary Research Fellow, University of Gloucestershire Independent Researcher: Pegasus Projects
BSA: Death, Inequality and Social Difference 14 November 2014
TWO STUDIES
Literature review and Scoping study of support organisations
An Evaluation Study with bereaved military parents
Both funded by Forces Support a charity that provides practical support to those bereaved through military death
(with Dr Gillian Chowns)
(with Dr Mairi Harper)
25.75%
33.72%
8.81%
7.78%
21.71% 2.23%
Disease
Traffic accident
KIA
Suicide/open verdict
Other accident
Not known
(Source: UK Defence Statistics Compendium)
DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS IN THE UK ARMED FORCES 2003-2013 (n=1720)
Just under three quarters are from sudden causes of death
7.78%
64.76%
21.75%
5.08%
0.16%
0.48%
18-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50+
NK
These are predominantly young deaths – approx 85% under 40
DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS IN THE UK ARMED FORCES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN 2003-2014
BY AGE (n=630)
(Source: BBC)
Families (Partners and Children)
Käthe Kollwitz The Mourning Parents, Vladslo German Cemetery, Belgium
.... and Parents
Käthe Kollwitz The Mourning Parents, Vladslo German Cemetery, Belgium
1. Is the experience of those who have been bereaved through a military death different and, if so, in what ways? 2. With a particular focus on bereaved parents, how is
the experience compounded by the complexities of the social, cultural, and political context that surrounds them?
QUESTIONS FOR TODAY........?
‘Cultural script of military life’
WHAT MAKES THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BEREAVED THROUGH A MILITARY DEATH DIFFERENT?
(Keegan, 2011)
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
Deployment: Constitutes varying degrees of loss Companionship and intimacy Emotional and instrumental support, inc childcare. Associated with: Spousal depression Sleep disturbance Physical symptoms Significant increases in parenting distress Disruption in parenting rules/expectations Increased rates of child/intimate partner
Military families - used to cycles of absence
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
‘Crisis’ deaths Unusually traumatic, and violent Anticipated but sudden
Death outside the UK Repatriation of the body RWB helpful/intrusive Few relatives able to visit the place of death
Death in the UK No repatriation ceremony
Inquest Delays in funeral arrangements Uncertainty knowing what has happened and in getting the story clear
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
Those who die are relatively young leaving behind: Partners In post-modern family structures - Which one? Parents Consequences when relationships poor Siblings Forgotten?
Children Unborn/Very young?
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
Consequences Recognition to person/bereaved ‘Honour’ the death BUT: Attention on-going over time/images repeated
National news & Information very public
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
Military culture: Language, social norms, and attitudes Strong identity bound up with it BUT: Finding meaning may be challenging
The impact of deployment prior to the death
DIFFERENCES
Nature and timing of the death
Those who have died and those left behind
Media coverage
Military culture and personal identity
Additional losses and changes
Domino effect of changes/loss For partners Practical support Military life Parenting Support Supportive relationships House Work
For children Friends School/Education
CIVILIAN MILITARY
The shattering of life
The enduring presence of the deceased son
Enduring feelings of grief
Feeling isolated and redundant
PARENTAL BEREAVEMENT
Grieving state of mind
Cultural isolation
Isolated from ‘military family’
Geographical isolation
Social isolation
CIVILIAN MILITARY
SUDDEN AND VIOLENT DEATH
How parents were informed
The processes surrounding the death
‘Seeing’ the body
Loss of control
A paradoxical space
Narrative re-enactment of violent death
The Funeral The Belongings Kinship
Hierarchy • of loss
• of death
