ABSTRACT
From a sociological perspective it is important to acknowledge that the common usage of the term “resilience” pulls us into thinking in terms of individuals and into personifying families, rather than focusing on families in all their complexity. It is also important to acknowledge that there may be strong, undesirable cultural biases in setting standards for what family resilience is or should be. Also, in a sociological perspective it is important to note where in society the valuing of family resilience originates. To the extent that it comes from those responsible for family losses or those with economic reasons for denying services to families, we need to question whether the advocacy of family resilience is in the best interests of families. With those concerns in mind, the chapter lays out suggested elements of family resilience, starting with emotional sharing, mutual support and shared meaning making. Practical implications of a sociological perspective on family resilience include seeing the importance of providing family, as opposed to individual, services for people dealing with grief and loss. At the macro level, a sociological perspective on family resilience points to the importance of public policy that promotes health, safety and well-being for all.
