| This comparative ethnographic study of cultural issues related to death uses the oral histories of a small sample of women interviewed in Brazil in the city of Campinas, State of Sao Paulo and in the United States in the city of New Haven, Connecticut. Both cities are middle class and have important universities. Women in the age group 46 to 55 years old were chosen because they tend to have survived deaths of loved ones and because they are willing to share their feelings and stories about their experiences with death. Their stories about death and dying are explored in six chapters. They discuss their attitudes to and experiences with funerals, death in general, suicide and abortion, gender issues, fear, and spirituality. A variety of cultural differences are revealed, the most important one being a strong belief in free will in the United States and belief in God's will in Brazil. Because of their faith, the Brazilian women seem to be more at peace with issues related to death and dying. |
