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Occupational therapy gender imbalance; : revisiting a lingering issue

Karaba Bäckström, Martin LU orcid ; Luiz Moura de Castro, Andre ; Eakman, Aaron M. LU ; Ikiugu, Moses N. ; Gribble, Nigel ; Asaba, Eric LU ; Kottorp, Anders ; Falkmer, Olov ; Eklund, Mona LU orcid and Ness, Nils Erik , et al. (2023) In Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy 30(7). p.1113-1121
Abstract
Background

Recently, it has been suggested that gender disparity in Occupational Therapy has to do with segregated gendered job norms that position female dominated professions as a ‘step down’ for many males. Interestingly, this suggestion was not underpinned by experiences of males in the profession.
Aims and Methods

Thirteen male Occupational Therapists with a variety of backgrounds were invited to this Round Table research, focussing on the broader issue of the existing gender imbalance in Occupational Therapy.
Results

Two themes emerged: ‘The core values of the profession’, and ‘Broadening the scope of the profession’; none of them suggesting that male/female imbalance was necessarily the most... (More)
Background

Recently, it has been suggested that gender disparity in Occupational Therapy has to do with segregated gendered job norms that position female dominated professions as a ‘step down’ for many males. Interestingly, this suggestion was not underpinned by experiences of males in the profession.
Aims and Methods

Thirteen male Occupational Therapists with a variety of backgrounds were invited to this Round Table research, focussing on the broader issue of the existing gender imbalance in Occupational Therapy.
Results

Two themes emerged: ‘The core values of the profession’, and ‘Broadening the scope of the profession’; none of them suggesting that male/female imbalance was necessarily the most pressing issue.
Conclusions

A gender-unrelated approach to everyday problem-solving was put forward to achieve increased diversity in Occupational Therapists’ backgrounds, better reflecting the people they serve. By broadening the scope and the way the profession is presented, and encouraging innovative and more entrepreneurially driven approaches, diversity in the workforce could be further facilitated. These findings are discussed within the context of ‘The mutual constitution of cultures and selves’ model.
Significance

Diversity in the Occupational therapy workforce could be further facilitated with a shift in focus away from the male/female perspective to an intersectional approach. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Core Values, Diversity, gender disparity, intersectionality, male/female, OT profession, scope of OT, workforce
in
Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy
volume
30
issue
7
pages
9 pages
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:85163034215
ISSN
1651-2014
DOI
10.1080/11038128.2023.2220912
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c7292843-4637-4f04-8840-38b20852a4b6
date added to LUP
2023-07-03 17:41:38
date last changed
2024-02-19 21:12:29
@article{c7292843-4637-4f04-8840-38b20852a4b6,
  abstract     = {{Background<br/><br/>Recently, it has been suggested that gender disparity in Occupational Therapy has to do with segregated gendered job norms that position female dominated professions as a ‘step down’ for many males. Interestingly, this suggestion was not underpinned by experiences of males in the profession.<br/>Aims and Methods<br/><br/>Thirteen male Occupational Therapists with a variety of backgrounds were invited to this Round Table research, focussing on the broader issue of the existing gender imbalance in Occupational Therapy.<br/>Results<br/><br/>Two themes emerged: ‘The core values of the profession’, and ‘Broadening the scope of the profession’; none of them suggesting that male/female imbalance was necessarily the most pressing issue.<br/>Conclusions<br/><br/>A gender-unrelated approach to everyday problem-solving was put forward to achieve increased diversity in Occupational Therapists’ backgrounds, better reflecting the people they serve. By broadening the scope and the way the profession is presented, and encouraging innovative and more entrepreneurially driven approaches, diversity in the workforce could be further facilitated. These findings are discussed within the context of ‘The mutual constitution of cultures and selves’ model.<br/>Significance<br/><br/>Diversity in the Occupational therapy workforce could be further facilitated with a shift in focus away from the male/female perspective to an intersectional approach.}},
  author       = {{Karaba Bäckström, Martin and Luiz Moura de Castro, Andre and Eakman, Aaron M. and Ikiugu, Moses N. and Gribble, Nigel and Asaba, Eric and Kottorp, Anders and Falkmer, Olov and Eklund, Mona and Ness, Nils Erik and Balogh, Stefan and Hynes, Patrick and Falkmer, Torbjörn}},
  issn         = {{1651-2014}},
  keywords     = {{Core Values; Diversity; gender disparity; intersectionality; male/female; OT profession; scope of OT; workforce}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  number       = {{7}},
  pages        = {{1113--1121}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy}},
  title        = {{Occupational therapy gender imbalance; : revisiting a lingering issue}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2023.2220912}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/11038128.2023.2220912}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}