TY - CHAP

T1 - Against and with the silence: Language, relations, and methods in qualitative research on pregnancy loss and perinatal bereavement

AU - Böcker, Julia

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Editor and Contributors Severally 2025.

PY - 2025/3/18

Y1 - 2025/3/18

N2 - Pregnancy losses such as miscarriage, stillbirth and (late) abortion, as well as perinatal bereavement, are sensitive subjects as they touch upon challenging emotions, social taboos, and the social invisibility of those affected by them. The chapter first provides background information on why a sensitive research mode is needed in this field of qualitative research and proposes a reflexive approach that is process- and situation-oriented. It then discusses ethical moments for researchers to consider, including a sensitive and suitable choice of language, careful research encounters, and appropriate research methods. In doing so, it seeks to act as a starting point for researchers to think about research in this sensitive area. The chapter argues that the process of qualitative pregnancy loss research can be a way of creating social meaning and thus working against the stigma and isolation that are common to experiences of pregnancy loss and bereavement.

AB - Pregnancy losses such as miscarriage, stillbirth and (late) abortion, as well as perinatal bereavement, are sensitive subjects as they touch upon challenging emotions, social taboos, and the social invisibility of those affected by them. The chapter first provides background information on why a sensitive research mode is needed in this field of qualitative research and proposes a reflexive approach that is process- and situation-oriented. It then discusses ethical moments for researchers to consider, including a sensitive and suitable choice of language, careful research encounters, and appropriate research methods. In doing so, it seeks to act as a starting point for researchers to think about research in this sensitive area. The chapter argues that the process of qualitative pregnancy loss research can be a way of creating social meaning and thus working against the stigma and isolation that are common to experiences of pregnancy loss and bereavement.

KW - Emotions

KW - Miscarriage

KW - Reflection

KW - Researcher vulnerability

KW - Researcher–researched-relationship

KW - Sensitive language

KW - Stigma

KW - Stillbirth

KW - Sociology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105005239128&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.4337/9781035315239.00030

DO - 10.4337/9781035315239.00030

M3 - Chapter

SN - 9781035315222

SP - 300

EP - 316

BT - Handbook of Sensitive Research in the Social Sciences

A2 - Liamputtong, Pranee

PB - Edward Elgar Publishing

ER -