"Power and Prejudice": Thinking differently about grief

This article explores some of the challenges we face as educators and practitioners in thinking and teaching about, and responding to, grief. Questioning the capacity of prevailing theoretical perspectives on grief to adequately capture the complexity and diversity of people's grief experiences, we consider the power and prejudices we potentially bring to our work. We reflect on the importance of being open to differing worldviews and assumptions; on developments in theoretical approaches concerning grief and grieving; on the challenges presented by intrapersonal, psychologically-oriented theories; and on embracing inclusive grief education and practice. We emphasise the need to work with grieving individuals in ways that encourage the development of justice and shared power and meanings, and awareness of the particular personal, social, cultural, spiritual and political contexts in which they live.