Occupational therapy gender imbalance; : revisiting a lingering issue
(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)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/c7292843-4637-4f04-8840-38b20852a4b6
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023-06-22
- 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}}, }