Citation

Kenney JS. Int. Rev. Victimology 2002; 9(3): 219-251.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, World Society of Victimology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/026975800200900301

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

When a loved one is murdered, there is a profound impact on the selves of those left behind. In this paper, three competing conceptions of self are considered in order to help us to understand the impact on the social selves of such survivors, and the pragmatic ways in which selves struggle with this event in their social interactions. Building upon the insights of earlier work on victimization, bereavement, gender and self, a qualitative study of survivors found that these individuals metaphorically expressed a profound 'loss of self', which they further generalized beyond themselves in terms of a 'ripple effect' spreading through their families and community. Survivors elaborated this loss of self through five further 'metaphors of loss', which indicated various dimensions within this root metaphor. These included: (1) permanent loss of future; (2) violating devastation; (3) being a 'different person now'; (4) loss of control; and (5) loss of innocence. These metaphors were generally expressed either in an effort to express the inexpressible, or as a presentation of self in circumstances where survivors' victim status was questioned. While all of these metaphors were expressed across gender lines, all except loss of control were predominantly expressed by the female gender, and each exhibited variations in emphasis which shed light on gendered identities as an aspect of self. Moreover, these were disproportionately expressed by bereaved parents and siblings. In the end, the metaphors emerging from such a profound emotional experience may teach us much about both the fundamental dimensions underlying self and identity, the micro-political strategies utilized in interaction, and the process of constructing social problems.

Language: en