Coming out when a partner dies? Challenges faced by older women who grieve a same-sex partner

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn a constructivist framework, bereavement experiences are seen as following individualised trajectories. Older individuals who lose a same-sex partner often face additional layers of complexity. At times, they must contend with disenfranchised grief, when, for example, their loss is not recognised.From an intersectional perspective, older women grieving a same-sex partner are thought to face specific challenges, but research about their experience is scarce. To explore the particularities of their social location, we held 18 semi-directive interviews with 10 women over the age of 65 from the Greater Montreal area, in the province of Quebec, Canada. A thematic analysis of the data was conducted.Our results show that older women in same-sex relationships can face difficulties related to the need to name their sexual identity when their partner dies. Following their loss, they may struggle to be and remain visible as a widow. They may also face obstacles, both external and internal, in securing the support they need. We contextualise our results with descriptions of our participant’s varied narratives. The diversity of trajectories is considered in light of the complex interactions between age, sex, sexual identity, and their impact on our participants’ visibility.