Sophia Zupanc
Wellesley College
Project
Dispatches from Death: Exploring How We Die
Greece, India, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand
What constitutes a dignified death? How are notions of death and dying shaped by the culture, institutions, and norms under which an individual lives? What is the balance between the use of life-saving treatment and meeting end-of-life care needs? Communities whose death and dying rituals differ from those traditionally found in the US offer some answers. Through participant observation, interviews, and volunteer experiences, I will explore how the notion of a "dignified death" is socially and normatively constructed.