01
Loss is not acknowledged
Minimalization of loss occurs as siblings are frequently encouraged to support bereaved parents, resulting in grief suppression.
Disenfranchised Grief
A grief that is unrecognized, unsupported, or denied — leaving the griever to mourn in private and in silence.
Grief is the price we pay for love — but disenfranchised grief asks us to pay it twice.
A framework
Classification of Sibling Disenfranchisement
Three conditions under which sibling grief is most often pushed to the margins.
02
Griever is excluded
Grievers can experience isolation due to beliefs that they are incapable or require protection from death — including children, those with developmental disabilities, and aging populations.
03
The way individuals grieve
Siblings may face admonishment when exhibited grief expressions do not conform to societal norms — whether stoic or heightened emotional responses.
Citations
Doka, K. J. (2002). Disenfranchised grief: New directions, challenges, and strategies for practice. Research Press.
Gilligan, M., Stocker, C. M., & Jewsbury Conger, K. (2020). Sibling relationships in adulthood: Research findings and new frontiers. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 12(3), 305–320.