Chapter 14: Death and Dying Overview The process of dying, our interpretation, a

Chapter 14: Death and Dying
Overview
The process of dying, our interpretation, and the meanings we attach to the concept are ideas that individuals and societies have been thinking about for millennia. In fact, anthropologists learned from known hunter and gatherer archaeological burial sites that individuals were thinking about what happens to individuals after they die based on the crude stone tools and flowers that were included in the burials.
Today, we still have rituals and meanings when someone dies. Sociologists have found trends among individuals and loved ones when they are anticipating their deaths. We plan for how we want the occasion to be observed and memorialized. Individuals plan for the future of those we leave behind if that is a possibility. This module is much more theoretical in nature than some of the other chapters. I encourage you to take the time you need to think through what these concepts mean.
What is of particular interest is how these concepts and theories about death and dying play out in a pandemic. You or people you may know have likely said good-bye to loved ones over FaceTime. Funerals are delayed, more intentionally planned, or possibly held inside. In the discussion this week, I want you to think about how these established concepts and theories applied to life before individuals were dying of COVID and how they are interpreted now in light of the pandemic.
Course Objectives
This module will prepare you for the following course objectives:
CO2: Apply the sociological perspective to explain real-world health context.
CO3: Integrate theoretically and empirically-informed ideas from sociology in developing arguments about the social causes of health outcomes for social groups.
CO6: Analyze underlying assumptions in certain theoretical orientations or paradigms.
CO7: Apply core sociological concepts to new health situations.
Module Objectives
By the end of this module, you will be able to:
MO 14.1 Define the various concepts of death (CO7).
MO 14.2 Identify the causes of death globally (CO2).
MO 14.3 Explain the various ways that individuals in society explain death and dying (CO3, CO6).
MO 14.4 Discuss how normal cultural rituals have had to change based on deaths resulting from the pandemic.
MO 14.5 Discuss the ways that individuals anticipate death and mark life through rituals (CO3).
Week 5 Discussion:
Requirements
You must submit an initial response for the post by Tuesday. This post should be at least one to two paragraphs (10-14 sentences minimum), or longer, and should mainly include concepts and language from the textbook, PowerPoints, and inclusion of your own creative thoughts. Feel free to include outside sources as well. See the attached rubric to guide your post. Prompt
A number of individuals have died from COVID in the past year. The experiences associated with these deaths are very different from other deaths (e.g., natural deaths or deaths not from infectious diseases). Loved ones are saying goodbye on FaceTime and other video platforms because they are not allowed near their loved one is dying. Additionally, a number of people have delayed memorial services for those who have died because of limits on gatherings or fear of attending so called “super spreader” events. Based on the theories in the textbook, how would you explain the death rituals in societies during COVID versus several years previous to now?