Asee peer logo

Navigating Grief in Academia: Prioritizing Supports for Women Scholars through Informed Approaches

Download Paper |

Conference

2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Portland, Oregon

Publication Date

June 23, 2024

Start Date

June 23, 2024

End Date

July 12, 2024

Conference Session

Women in Engineering Division (WIED) Technical Session 2 - Personal Situations

Tagged Division

Women in Engineering Division (WIED)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/47794

Request a correction

Paper Authors

biography

Enas Aref Western Michigan University Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0009-0005-2983-2219

visit author page

Mrs. Enas Aref is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Industrial Engineering Program at Western Michigan University. Mrs. Aref is a certified Associate Ergonomist. She is also a researcher at the HPI and a doctoral Teaching Assistant in the Industrial and Entrepreneurial Engineering and Engineering Management Department at Western Michigan University

visit author page

author page

Dina Idriss-Wheeler University of Ottawa

author page

Julia Hajjar University of Ottawa

Download Paper |

Abstract

In this paper, the researchers investigate the unique challenges faced by women, particularly those in academia, who are grieving the loss of a loved one. While academic institutions commonly offer bereavement support services for employees and students, these programs do not often address the specific needs of grieving women after a major loss. Many women find themselves navigating the process of returning to work and resuming their responsibilities alone after a significant loss. Additionally, the psychological, emotional, and practical support offered by colleagues varies widely for bereaved woman academics. Although the importance of better supporting women in academia has been recognized, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding about the tailored support grieving women require.

In this paper, the researchers present a comprehensive review of existing literature on grief, bereavement, and their significant impacts on women in academia. Additionally, current organizational policies and academic institution bereavement support programs will be examined. Based on findings, the authors will develop an evidence-based framework designed to enhance support for grieving women in academia, with consideration of aspects of diversity and inclusion Moreover, preliminary training content to educate colleagues on providing compassionate and flexible support to women academics during times of bereavement will be proposed.

Aref, E., & Idriss-Wheeler, D., & Hajjar, J. (2024, June), Navigating Grief in Academia: Prioritizing Supports for Women Scholars through Informed Approaches Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://peer.asee.org/47794

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2024 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015