KIELLAND-NETTVERKET

WE WHO GREW UP

MASTER THESIS IN SOCIAL STUDIES

Tonje Varhaug Hetlelid has completed her master's thesis in social studies, titled WE WHO GREW UP. It explores the intergenerational impact of the Alexander L. Kielland disaster and how knowledge of this can support teachers in their relational and educational work.

This master's thesis has been evaluated and awarded the university's highest grade (UiS).

“The study highlights the importance of society taking responsibility for people affected by major disasters.”

“What we see is that people have lost opportunities that others had, because they lacked follow-up to process trauma or to help their mothers cope with the loss of a spouse and father of their children. We see financial constraints that arose due to the loss of the main provider and inadequate compensation. We see children who had to grow up and pull themselves together to manage without being a burden.”

“The importance of providing help to entire families – and over time – is a reasonable conclusion in light of this study.”

“Through the study, we have found the importance of having people who care, take responsibility, and matter to others. By seeing how the lack of precisely this has led to major challenges for widows who lost their husbands, children who lost their fathers – and who also lost the network around them because it was too difficult for others to take responsibility and help those who were struggling. Knowledge of what it means to be people who stand alone with a backpack full of difficult experiences, surrounded by people who avoid them because they don’t know what to do, or because it’s too hard to be someone who supports and takes responsibility for people in need of a helping hand – is essential to understanding the value of mattering to others, of standing up and taking responsibility for others.”

A heartfelt thank you to Tonje for giving us the opportunity to share your study with all of you.