Handbook of the Sociology of Death, Grief, and Bereavement

Neil Thompson, PhD, DLitt, is a writer and online tutor and a visiting professor at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, Wales, where he teaches on the MSc Advanced Practice in the Human Services.Gerry R. Cox, PhD, is professor emeritus of sociology/archaeology and former director of the Center for Death Education and Bioethics at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.

"A fascinating and important departure from conventional thinking on death, grief, and bereavement, this collection of essays extends our understanding via a sociological lens, opening up for inspection issues such as culture, gender, and place. As such, this book is a magnificent tour de force in its scope and depth, embedding a fresh disciplinary analysis to this field of study." – Professor Charlotte Williams, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia"This is an astoundingly valuable book that combines a depth of knowledge and insight with genuine accessibility for readers who may be exploring these issues for the first time. Its international scope and the broad range of topics make it a must read for academics, researchers, practitioners, and students. Expertly edited by two internationally respected authors, this book not only fills many gaps in the existing literature: it opens up new and thought-provoking areas of debate." – Bernard Moss, Emeritus Professor, Staffordshire University, England"An innovative, insightful, comparative and compelling handbook on issues associated with death, grief and bereavement grounded through sociological intersections. This handbook is a leader in its field and deserves to be widely cited given its authenticity and impact."– Professor Jason Powell, University of Chester, England

• ContentsForeword – Dr. Bob Bendiksen, University of Wisconsin-La CrossePrefaceAcknowledgementsThe editorsThe contributorsIntroductionPART ONE Sociological FoundationsIntroduction to Part One Emile DurkheimMichael Brennan, England, UK Max WeberJodie Croxall, Wales, UK and Michael Brennan, England, UK MarxismNeil Thompson, Wales, UK George Herbert MeadGerry R. Cox, USA Erving GoffmanGerry R. Cox, USA Women’s Contributions to Classical SociologyJune Allan, Australia PART TWOSociological DevelopmentsIntroduction to Part Two Michel FoucaultNeil Thompson and Eryl Owen, Wales, UK Pierre Bourdieu Neil Small, England, UK Existentialism Neil Thompson, Wales, UK Continuing BondsDennis Klass, USA An Egalitarian Perspective Darcy Harris, Canada Disenfranchised Grief Neil Thompson, Wales, UK and Kenneth Doka, USAPART THREE Contemporary Issues and DebatesIntroduction to Part Three Dark Tourism Erin Dermody, Canada Aging and Ageism Sue Thompson, Wales, UK Alcohol and Other Drug Use Wulf Livingston, Wales, UK Culturally Competent Practice Neil Thompson, Wales, UK Toward a Sociology of Terrorism Gerry R. Cox, USA and Neil Thompson, Wales, UK Is Grief a Disease? The Medicalization of Grief by the Psy-Disciplines in the 21st CenturyLeeat Granek, Israel Being-in-the-World of the Sociological Imagination: Understanding Living with and Beyond Cancer Jan Pascal and Olivia Sagan, England, UK Death, Grief, and Virtual Connections: The Role of Social Media for Social Support and MemorializationKathleen R. Gilbert, USA Infertility and Loss: Conception and Motherhood in the Era of Assisted Reproductive TechnologyIris Po Yee Lo and Celia Hoi Yan Chan The Demise of Accountability in Public Services: A Dilemma Exemplified by the Hidden Sepsis Crisis Paul Stepney, Finland The Role of Religion and Spirituality in GrievingNeil Thompson, Wales, UK A Cultural Sociological Review of Chinese Funeral Rituals Sharon Chan and Amy Chow, Hong Kong, ChinaAfterword – Dr. Inge Corless, USAIndex