The New Sociology of Bereavement

Bereavement - the loss of a loved one through death - is a common and consequential life course experience. Although bereavement, and the topic of death and dying more broadly, has remained on the margins of sociology, sociological research on bereavement has flourished in the wake of contemporary mortality crises. This review synthesizes the new sociology of bereavement. To contextualize contemporary advancements, we first describe the earlier dominance of psychopathology perspectives. We then review recent sociological contributions, which recognize the structural systems that underpin bereavement and shape its wide-ranging and long-lasting consequences for individuals, families, and communities. We emphasize how bereavement experiences provide a microcosm for understanding social inequalities, and how a life course perspective can provide an integrative framework for a comprehensive sociology of bereavement. We conclude by identifying promising areas for future conceptual and methodological advancements in this emerging field.