Women in death care in the United States
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The funeral industry in America emerged after the Civil war as a means of disposing of the countless bodies that were accumulated during the war.[1] As a means of preserving bodies for a longer period of time in order to transport them home for burial, the method of embalming was utilized[2]. Due to the chemicals required in the embalming process professionals were needed to care for North America's deceased [2]. As time progressed caring for the deceased transitioned from being a practice performed in the home to an extremely profitable industry.[1]
History
According to the “Encyclopedia of Death and Dying,” the funeral industry emerged in America in the aftermath of the civil war and gained popularity in the 20th century. In the nineteenth century before undertaking became an occupational specialty women were placed in roles of caring for the sick and deceased[1] .During the early development of the funeral industry, undertaking became one of the few trades that allowed women to participate during a time when the business world predominately consisted of “landowning, educated, white men”[1].Although women were not prohibited from entering the death service industry they were rarely given the position of undertaker unlike their male counterparts.[1] During the Victorian era, women were only allowed to care for the bodies of women and children due to the time period’s strict enforcement of ‘propriety’[3]. In addition to this fact “the further the funeral industry headed toward becoming a profession, the further women were left behind”[1]. To further exclude women from the funeral industry Civil War trades journals, for instance, “The Casket and Embalmer’s Monthly”, published articles to discourage women from entering the trade[3].
Small family owned funeral homes are still in practice, although large specialist organizations managing funerals have gained prominence due to societal and technical changes and the institutionalization of death[4]. “The funeral industry is laden with sexism and specific roles based on sex”[5]. During the 1960 and 70s, there was a stigma against females as funeral directors, that lasted until 1980; it was extremely difficult for women to find employment in the funeral industry outside of a family practice[6].
Embalming
The establishment of embalming is what transitioned, caring for the deceased from a job predominately performed by women at home to an industry[2]. Embalming is the process in which bodily fluids are replaced with a myriad of preservatives and chemicals, like formaldehyde, that is pumped through the main artery [2]. During the civil war hundreds of soldiers died away from home and the process of embalming aided in preserving the bodies until they could be transported for burial [2]. Although embalming only gained prominence after Lincoln was shot and his body was subsequently embalmed[2]. The process of parading Lincoln’s corps allowed the public to understand embalming and see it as an innovative new process that soon became the norm in terms of preparing bodies after death[2]. Early techniques in embalming where primitive: an article in 1898, written in the Journal of Medicine and Science criticized and brought to attention the way the arsenic used to preserve corpses had leached into the soil and the groundwater near cemeteries[7]. As a means of monitoring, and establishing protocol for handling corpses, in 1898 the first mortuary schools were established, along with the National Funeral Directors Association, which is still the leading industry association in 2015[7].
Nineteenth Century
In the Twentieth Century, a woman by the name of Lina D. Odou pioneered and advocated for women’s involvement in embalming.[1] “Odou was formerly quoted saying, "Over and over again have I heard mothers ask undertakers if they could not furnish women embalmers for their dead daughters, and many others to whom the dead are sacred have asked the same question, and I have invariably heard such men say there are no women to be had for such a purpose"[1]. The lack of female embalmers, due to social stigma, motivated Odou to become an expert in the field by studying in Switzerland; and later in 1899 she opened an institute for women at the undertaking establishment of the Reverend Stephen Merritt.[1] In Odou’s first class 10 students graduated.[1] In the following two years, she established the Lina D. Odou Embalming Institute in 1901 [3].
Females have recently started to regain prominence in the funeral industry, as of recently more than half (57%) of mortuary science students are women[8]. Funeral homes such as White Lady Funerals has a staff completely composed of women[5].
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Broaddus, Ellen (November 2005). "The Future Role of Women in the Funeral Industry". ICFM Magazine. International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ a b c d e f g Lebsack, Lexy (26 October 2016). "These Two Millennials Want To Change The Way We Die". Refinery29. Caitlin Doughty Undertaking LA Interview. Retrieved November,26,2016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ a b c Gillies, Matthew. "History of Women in the Funeral Industry". The Definitive Funeral Planning and Information Resource Site. Retrieved November,8,2016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ Parsons, Brian (August,19,2010). "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. The Lifecycle of the UK Funeral Industry". Journal Mortality Promoting the Interdisciplinary Study of Death and Dying. Journal Mortality Promoting the Interdisciplinary Study of Death and Dying.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ a b Handy, A (April, 2012). "Sexism in the Funeral Industry". The Other Side of Funerals. The Other Side of Funerals.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Hallman, Randy (December,13,2015). "Not Just a Man's Job: More Women Are Funeral Home Directors". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond Times-Dispatch.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Mead, Rebecca (November,20,2015). "Our Bodies, Ourselves". The New Yorker. The New Yorker.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Fisher, Anne (August,19,2015). "Why Your Funeral Will Probably Be Run by a Woman". Fortune Comments. Fortune Comments.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|url=(help)
Broaddus, Ellen. "The Future Role of Women in the Funeral Industry." Editorial. ICFM Magazine Nov. 2005: International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association. Iccfa, Nov. 2005. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.
Fisher, Anne. "Why Your Funeral Will Probably Be Run by a Woman." Fortune Comments.19 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 Nov. 2016.
Gillies, Matthew. "History of Women in the Funeral Industry." The Definitive Funeral Planning and Information Resource Site Wide Activity RSS. Web. 8 Nov. 2016.
Hallman, Randy. "Not Just a Man's Job: More Women Are Funeral Home Directors." Richmond Times-Dispatch. 13 Dec. 2015. Web. 8 Nov. 2016.
Handy, A. "Sexism in the Funeral Industry." The Other Side of Funerals: 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
Harris, Mark. Grave Matters: A Journey through the Modern Funeral Industry to a Natural Way of Burial. New York: Scribner, 2007. Print.
Kearl. "FUNERARY RITUAL & THE FUNERAL INDUSTRY." Kearl's Guide to the Sociology of Death: Death's Personal Impacts. Web. 26 Oct. 2016.
Laderman, Gary M. "Funeral Industry." Encyclopedia of Death and Dying. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.
Palet, Laura Secorun. "A Cheerful Mortician Tackles The Lighter Side Of Death." Author Interviews. NPR, 13 Sept. 2014. Web. 9 Nov. 2016.
Parsons, Brian. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. The Lifecycle of the UK Funeral Industry: Journal Mortality Promoting the Interdisciplinary Study of Death and Dying, 2010. Journal Mortality Promoting the Interdisciplinary Study of Death and Dying. 19 Aug. 2010. Web. 10 Nov. 2016.
Tradii, Lauar. "Death, Technology, and the “Return to Nature”." Dilettantearmy. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.
Mead, Rebecca. "Our Bodies, Ourselves." The New Yorker. N.p., 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Nov. 2016.
Mitford, Jessica. The American Way of Death. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1963. Print.