A Silent Story:The Study of the Lesbian Experiencing Disenfranchised Grief of Partner Under the Chinese Social and Culture

• Main Authors: Tsung-I Chan, 詹宗儀
• Other Authors: Pao-Ling Yeh
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/vn6d4j

碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 應用心理學系碩士班 === 103 === The purpose of this study is to explore the disenfranchised grief that the lesbian facing the death of her partner from the perspective of traditional Chinese socio-cultural contexts, including the mental process disenfranchised grief of what she went through and dilemma she faced under the traditional death’s ritual. Their experience was examined and interpreted in terms of narrative approach. The conclusions are as follows: i. The lesbian partner died before experiencing disenfranchised grief phenomenon: (a) For the lesbian couples, as a partner, there is no medical or legal procedure can be involved based on any legal status. (b) Complicated grief will be induced after the death of a lesbian partner. It is shown that the grief reactions will be emerged chronically after partner’s death. (c) As the lesbian relationship is not legally binded, there is no recognition during the procedures of holding the funeral for one’s partner. The grief is along with such kind of denial of the lesbian identity. (d) There is disenfranchised grief after the partner’s death since they were deprived of the recognition and support of grief, grief non-significant relationship between the object and they are deprived of the mourning. ii. Lesbian couples face the dilemma of traditional funeral’s rites as there is no corresponding entity in their position: the alive partner would not be notified of the location of the funeral, as well as the cultural healing. iii. The characteristics of traditional Chinese culture, a repressed society, increases the grief after the lesbian partner’s death. On the contrary, it is found that the more the disclosure of the lesbian couple’s relationship is, the more resources the lesbian can get in order to cope with the grief. iv. To alleviate the psychological pain, the alive partner would try to seek help from lesbian’s course or the religious power from God to reconstruct their meaning of life.