Grief is deep sadness, especially after losing someone or something important. It can affect your feelings, thoughts, and even your body.
From Old French “gref”/“grief,” meaning “injustice, misfortune, hardship,” from Latin “gravis,” meaning “heavy, serious.” The idea is of a heavy weight on the heart.
Grief literally comes from a word meaning “heavy,” as if sadness were a weight you carry. That’s why people often say their heart feels heavy when they are grieving.
Expressions of grief have often been gendered, with women stereotyped as overly emotional and men discouraged from open mourning. Women’s grief, especially around war and violence, has sometimes been politicized or dismissed.
Treat grief as a human experience not bound to one gender; avoid framing women’s grief as excessive or men’s as surprising. Use neutral language when describing who grieves and how.
["mourning","sorrow","bereavement"]
When discussing social movements emerging from grief (e.g., mothers’ or widows’ groups), acknowledge the political agency and organizing work of the women involved.
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