Dealing with the Dead: Life as a Third Generation Independent Funeral Director

Jenna Ward; Robert McMurray

Dealing with the Dead: Life as a Third Generation Independent Funeral Director

The York Management School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This ‘On the Front Line’ article explores the necessary and yet undesirable work undertaken by a third generation, independent funeral director. Peter’s narrative account of the realities of funeral directing and his journey into the family business offers a poignant insight into the dirty work of death work. Reflecting on his own exposure, experiences and practices Peter offers us an opportunity to see behind the scenes, to hear how he has learnt to cope with death work undertaken by his family. Consequently, we reflect on how performances of emotional neutrality afford funeral directors the capacity to offer comfort to the bereaved in the face of such extreme dirty work. Yet, as Peter shares, this neutrality, masks the dirt and hides the pain of ‘dealing with the dead’.

Original language	English
Journal	Work, Employment and Society
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2 Jul 2018

Bibliographical note

This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

Keywords

Death work
emotional capital
emotional neutrality
dirty work
funeral directors

Access to Document

Dealing with the Dead WES OTFL Version3
This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details
Accepted author manuscript, 40.3 KB

Robert McMurray
- rm517york.acuk
- The York Management School - Chair in Work and Organisation, Former employee
Person: Academic

Cite this

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N2 - This ‘On the Front Line’ article explores the necessary and yet undesirable work undertaken by a third generation, independent funeral director. Peter’s narrative account of the realities of funeral directing and his journey into the family business offers a poignant insight into the dirty work of death work. Reflecting on his own exposure, experiences and practices Peter offers us an opportunity to see behind the scenes, to hear how he has learnt to cope with death work undertaken by his family. Consequently, we reflect on how performances of emotional neutrality afford funeral directors the capacity to offer comfort to the bereaved in the face of such extreme dirty work. Yet, as Peter shares, this neutrality, masks the dirt and hides the pain of ‘dealing with the dead’.

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KW - emotional neutrality

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M3 - Article

SN - 0950-0170

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ER -

Dealing with the Dead: Life as a Third Generation Independent Funeral Director

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Profiles

Robert McMurray

Cite this