Negotiation of Face Between Bereaved Parents and their Social Networks
Authors:
- Paige Toller (Univ of Nebraska, Omaha)
- M. Chad McBride (Creighton University)
For many bereaved parents, talking about their child's death and sharing their grief experiences with others is a key way in which they cope with their grief. Unfortunately, communicating with others about their child's death often proves difficult for bereaved parents and their social networks. Often these difficulties stem from threats to face. The purpose in the present study is to further identify how the face needs of both bereaved parents and their social network is communicatively negotiated following a child's death. Fifty two bereaved parents were interviewed and the data was inductively analyzed which resulted in an overall theme of protection. The findings highlight ways in which the parents' positive and negative face was successfully managed (by themselves and others). Ways in which others' (positive and negative) face needs were managed by these participants is also discussed. These findings highlight the complex nature of facework in social networks at individual, relational, and systemic levels.