It’s been a while since
my last blog entry – apologies.
I’ll carry on where I
left off. . .
I
feel privileged that my career as an academic and my engagement with sociology has
taken place during a time when more space has opened up for auto/biographical
reflection. Since the first British Sociological Association (BSA) Auto/Biography Study Group Conference
which took place on my birthday in 1991 I have felt that my work, and that of
similar others, has been valued and validated. Being part of a group that
encourages creativity and experimentation and shares so much laughter and so
many tears is fortune indeed.
With
reference to more recent learning experiences a significant and lasting legacy
of my UK SOC training is how the experience of becoming a Civil Celebrant helped
me to make connections with and draw on and further develop skills acquired
within my sociological undertakings and also my work as a nursery nurse (my
first career). All of these occupations are people focused, are creative and
require imagination. Civil Celebrancy as an auto/biographical practice involves
learning about and from the people whose lives are central to the ceremonies
concerned. I’m too much of a sociologist to think of this opportunity, this
life course development as natural and inevitable but I feel fortunate, yet
again, that my life experiences and life chances have come together in this
way.
Over the
last 25 years my academic research interests have been varied (to include not
least experiences of human reproduction, non/parenthood, travel and transport
and working and learning in higher education). Throughout I’ve been interested
in loss, grief and bereavement; originally with specific reference to perinatal
loss, and more recently loss across the lifecourse and the associated concern with continuing
bonds and lasting legacies and influences.
Three
weeks ago I was lucky to attend (and present) at another BSA study group event –
the Social Aspects of Death, Dying and
Bereavement Study Group (DDB) annual symposium – where the focus was on Methodology:
Researching Death, Dying and Bereavement. Following a stimulating day I decided
to join The Association for the Study of
Death and Society. I’m anticipating
that my education will continue. If you are interested in any of the organisations/groups mentioned here, maybe in terms of your own education:
Association for the Study of Death in Society LOGO |
http://www.britsoc.co.uk/groups/autobiography.aspx
http://www.britsoc.co.uk/study-groups/social-aspects-of-death,-dying-and-bereavement.aspx
http://www.britsoc.co.uk/study-groups/social-aspects-of-death,-dying-and-bereavement.aspx
To be continued . . .