Abstract
Presentation given at American Sociological Association Annual Conference.
Many parents turn to picture books and storybooks to help explain issues surrounding death and dying to their young children. But what do these books have to say, and what can they tell us about how our society thinks children, in particular, should approach issues of death, dying, grief, and bereavement? This qualitative content analysis research examines portrayals of emotions, family relationships, and cultural and religious beliefs in children's storybooks about death, dying, grief, and bereavement. In addition to dealing with topics such as death, funerals, memories, and grief, a number of the books also portray family relationships, gender roles, and beliefs about things such as heaven and what our loved ones experience after they die. This research describes how emotions such as sadness, anger, guilt, and even joy are depicted in children's books about death. It provides a look at how our society reacts to death differently depending on whether the deceased was an older person, a younger person, or even a beloved family pet, and it provides insight into cultural and religious beliefs related to death and dying.
Original language | American English |
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State | Published - Aug 9 2009 |
Event | American Sociological Association Annual Meeting - San Francisco, United States Duration: Aug 9 2009 → Aug 11 2009 Conference number: 104 https://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/2009_am_final_program_missing_front_matter.pdf (Link to program) |
Conference
Conference | American Sociological Association Annual Meeting |
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Abbreviated title | ASA Annual Meeting |
Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Francisco |
Period | 08/9/09 → 08/11/09 |
Internet address |
Disciplines
- Anthropology
- Family, Life Course, and Society
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Sociology
- Women's Studies