Circumstantial childlessness, disenfranchised grief and clinical implications

cityu.schoolDivision of Arts and Sciences
cityu.siteVancouver, BC
cityu.site.countryCanada
dc.contributor.authorHarowitz, Peggy
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-12T19:20:26Z
dc.date.available2019-12-12T19:20:26Z
dc.date.issued2019-08-28
dc.description.abstractChildlessness is on the rise in Western nations around the world but the reasons for it are largely unrecognized. Common thinking holds that individuals either actively choose not to have children or that they are unable to do so because of medical infertility. The reality, however, is that the vast majority of childless individuals actually fall into the category of being ‘childless by circumstance'. This manuscript style thesis explores the growing phenomenon of circumstantial childlessness amongst women in industrialized nations. First it seeks to understand how circumstantial childlessness is unique from other forms of childlessness and why it is both extremely stigmatized and misunderstood. Next this thesis aims to understand and make sense of the silence, invisibility and largely disenfranchised grief that surrounds this experience. Finally, it highlights some of the clinical implications and potential biases for counsellors working with this population to be aware of and discusses some relevant clinical interventions.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11803/844
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.institutionCity University of Seattle (CityU)
dc.subjectcircumstantial childlessness
dc.subjectsocial infertility
dc.subjectinvoluntary childlessness
dc.subjectpronatalism
dc.subjectdisenfranchised grief
dc.subjectchronic sorrow
dc.subjectclinical implications
dc.titleCircumstantial childlessness, disenfranchised grief and clinical implications
dc.typeThesis
thesis.degree.disciplineCounseling
thesis.degree.grantorCity University of Seattle (CityU)
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Counselling
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