Living With Death: The Unique Burdens of Grieving Women

We all die someday, and we all know people who have died already. Despite the fact that death is around us every day, it can make us squirm with discomfort. We avoid talking about it or thinking about it. The emotions and unanswerable questions are inconvenient at best, and earth-shattering at worst. While death is hard for everyone, for women it carries a unique set of expectations and circumstances, because we are so often the caretakers who keep everything running behind the scenes during times of upheaval. We cook the traditional funeral meals, sort through the belongings of the deceased, receive visitors and care for grieving family members, all while also feeling our own grief. We may feel guilty and embarrassed to ask for a listening ear or some time to ourselves. Many of us are all too aware of the expectations that we'll continue to be pleasant, helpful, and not too needy--sometimes those expectations become so deep-rooted that we enforce them on ourselves. So, what can we do?

At Women on the Rise, we intentionally create opportunities to speak openly about death, for example by celebrating Dia de Muertos activities with PAAL Partageons le monde, and hosting presentations from reproductive loss awareness organizations like the Centre for Reproductive Loss and the Little Bean Foundation. We gratefully receive donated items belonging to the deceased loved ones of our supporters around the city. We are proud to be partners in the Perinatal Loss Project.

Zeeta Maharaj, bereavement and grief expert

In this spirit of openness, we invite you to take part in a bereavement support group offered on our behalf by Lotus Grief Center. The facilitator is Zeeta Maharaj, a longtime motivational speaker and presenter who shifted her focus to grief and bereavement after the death of both her parents. Faced with the immensity of her loss, she realized that she could put her talents to work helping others through this universal transition. Zeeta's approach combines evidence-informed practices with the power of storytelling and ritual. She says, "I believe in meeting grief in all its complexity—emotional, physical, spiritual, and social—while honoring the unique journey of each person."

However much we might try to avoid it, death is part of the circle of life, and so we have no choice but to acknowledge it. The best way to do that is to do it together.

To join the closed 8-week support group, email info@womenontherise today!