Glossary

Term · Loss and Complications

disenfranchised grief

Also: hidden grief, unrecognized grief, grief not acknowledged

Grief that others do not see as valid or socially allowed, such as grief after an early pregnancy loss. It can feel lonely and hard to name.

In plain words

Disenfranchised grief is grief that is not openly recognized by others. It can happen when a loss is not widely known, when others do not see the loss as real, or when people feel they are not allowed to mourn. is a common example. Many people do not tell their friends or family about a pregnancy that ended early, so the grief has no visible place. Partners, grandparents, and siblings can experience it too. Disenfranchised grief can feel isolating and can make it harder to ask for support. Naming the loss, to oneself or a trusted person, can be a first step. A provider can help a mother who feels stuck in grief for a long time, and can be called or texted at any hour by anyone with thoughts of harming themselves.

The deeper version

The concept was developed by Doka (Disenfranchised Grief: Recognizing Hidden Sorrow, Lexington Books, 1989), who described losses that are not socially recognized, not openly acknowledged, or not considered legitimate, with the grief being unsupported as a result. Pregnancy loss is a classic setting because it is often private, and the lack of rituals or social acknowledgment can extend mourning. Doka's later work (2002) extended the model to chronic and ambiguous losses. Clinical measures of prolonged grief have been applied to pregnancy loss, but the relationship between social recognition and grief outcomes is studied mainly in qualitative and small quantitative samples. The main open question is how far acknowledgment itself changes outcomes.

Where it comes up

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Sources

  • Doka KJ — Disenfranchised Grief: Recognizing Hidden Sorrow. Lexington Books, 1989
  • Doka KJ (ed.) — Disenfranchised Grief: New Directions, Challenges, and Strategies for Practice. Research Press, 2002

The Mothership Topic Wiki is general information for mothers and the people who care for them. It is not medical, legal, or mental-health advice and does not create a provider relationship. Experiences posted by members are their own. In an emergency call 911. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.