Occupational (Therapy's) Possibilities: A Queer Reflection on the Tangled Threads of Oppression and Our Collective Liberation

This presentation stems from the work of occupational therapy and science scholars who have critically described how systems of dominance perpetuate health inequities and limit the occupational possibilities of those we aim to support. Liberation is discussed as a communal process and outcome of untangling, undoing, and reconfiguring systems of dominance that negatively impact health and limit the occupational possibilities of individuals, groups, and communities. In critically reflecting on my personal, professional, and ongoing journey toward liberation as a gay, white, able-bodied, man, I draw parallels between the systemic and intersecting oppressive forces that limit the occupational possibilities of historically marginalized groups and the need for our profession to consider its own liberation. Informed by queer theory, I question the binary discourses that separate the “Us” from the “Them,” illustrating how our struggles to transform practice based on anti-oppressive principles and the liberation of our full potential as occupational therapists must be tied to the liberation of the communities we aim to support. Drawing on lessons from liberation movements, I argue for the necessity of a representative and compassionate professional community to support collective action and to position the celebration of communal achievements as resistance and acts of gratitude.

Dissident Genders and Sexualities in the Occupational Therapy Peer-Reviewed Literature: A Scoping Review

IMPORTANCE

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other dissident gender and sexuality (LGBTQIA+) population is prone to experiencing violence and social deprivation. Although occupational therapy research and practice has addressed populations experiencing various forms of discrimination, few studies have focused on the LGBTQIA+ population as an area of concern.

OBJECTIVE

To map, characterize, and analyze peer-reviewed journal articles related to the LGBTQIA+ population in the occupational therapy literature.

DATA SOURCES

We searched for journal articles published up to December 2021 indexed in the Virtual Health Library, CINAHL, SciELO Citation Index, SCOPUS, and Web of Science.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA COLLECTION

We used Arksey and O'Malley's methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) extension for scoping reviews. Included articles articulated occupational therapy practice, education, research, and theoretical analysis in relation to LGBTQIA+.

FINDINGS

Forty-three articles published from 1987 to 2021 met the inclusion criteria. They included 28 research articles, 9 reflection articles, 3 experience reports, and 3 literature reviews.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Articles primarily offered general recommendations and possible professional contributions. More studies that seek to ascertain the effectiveness and limitations of occupational therapy practice with the LGBTQIA+ population are needed. With its diverse theoretical and methodological assumptions, occupational therapy can offer support so that professionals can alleviate these people's suffering in oppressive conditions and contribute to a more just society. What This Article Adds: This scoping review provides an overview of academic publications in occupational therapy on the LGBTQIA+ population, identifies dominant topics and gaps in this context, and points to ways to advance occupational therapy's contributions and actions that consider the needs and demands of people of dissident genders and sexualities.