Re-authoring Disenfranchised Grief Using a 6-Step Narrative Therapy: Powerful Metaphors from “White Eyes” to “True Love”

Over the past four decades, marriages between Hong Kong men and Mainland Chinese women have surged, with 18,939 recorded in mid 2023, making up 44.4% of all marriages in Hong Kong (Renmin Bao, 2024). Despite this integration, Mainland Chinese women often face stereotypes that hinder their acceptance in local communities, being labeled as “gold diggers” or “passport hunters.” Objectives: This qualitative study investigates the use of narrative therapy maps that empower immigrant wives in cultivating a preferred identity and navigating disenfranchised grief. Methodology: Utilizing data from an action research project, this study follows four phases: (1) planning; (2) action and observation; (3) reflection and intervention; and (4) re-planning. Thematic analysis, conducted with the consent of participants, reveals how Narrative Therapy can reshape grief narratives and challenge societal stigma. Findings: The research highlights six-step Narrative Therapy conversation maps that effectively strengthen clients' inner resources and resist negative identities. This approach empowers Chinese migrant wives to challenge stigma and promotes better grieving through narrative therapy as a fundamental human right.