About new forms of colonization in occupational therapy. Reflections on the Idea of Occupational Justice from a critical-political philosophy perspective

Abstract

Based on a critical political philosophy position, this is a reflection of the emergence of a variety of new concepts in North-Eurocentric occupational therapy. In this new prolific and technocratic grammar, the idea of Occupational Justice (OJ) has largely resulted in this scenario, as well as in other spaces on the periphery of the global world system of the profession, particularly in academia. I maintain that the idea of Occupational Justice (OJ) has become a new form of epistemic and cognitive colonization of the profession, which operates under universalist, essentialist, liberal assumptions, typical of modern Eurocentric rationality. This idea of a single, homogeneous justice, associated with the notion of occupation would allow occupational therapy (OT) to methodologically fulfill its professional and disciplinary work structured under scientific assumptions and respond appropriately to the new complexities of its work. In the development of the text, the idea of justice is recognized as a notion that derives from political philosophy.

Occupational justice health questionnaire: reflections on its application

“…However, despite the universality of the human rights concept, the authors argue that the implementation and manifestation of such rights needs to be reflective of personal, communal, and populational differences. This argument is supportive of Córdoba's (2020Córdoba's ( , p. 1365) reflection on occupational justice as a concept:…”

Is occupational therapy an ableist health profession? A critical reflection on ableism and occupational therapy

“…Ableism is reinforced when we assume that all people are 'able' to afford all these opportunities without understanding cultural, historical, and political contexts where occupational justice principles are to be applied. Córdoba (2020) described occupational justice as a colonising concept by the Anglo-Saxon community of OT practitioners. In other words, underpinned by Western ideas and ways of thinking, when occupational justice is uncritically examined and applied, it can reproduce forms of understanding and practices that deny other worldviews outside the colonising world (Córdoba, 2020).…”

The Concept of Oppression and Occupational Therapy: A Critical Interpretive Synthesis

“…The recent literature identified above indicates that the profession is attending to structured power relations. The concept of oppression, with its insistence on systemic causes, interrogation of domination and privilege, and identification of harm due to social identities, may add to this discourse and contribute to a needed plurality of ways to examine harm and opportunities for change (Guajardo Córdoba, 2020). Clarity about what constitutes oppression (ongoing benefit or harm to social groups, historically rooted, embedded in multiple interlocking social systems) may also help to avoid seeing every instance of discomfort or underrepresentation as a social justice concern (e.g., seeing the small number of men entering traditionally feminine jobs as discrimination; Beagan and Fredericks, 2018).…”

“…A plurality of approaches to injustice, which includes the concept of oppression, can disrupt universalist and homogeneous ideas that have been associated with a Western understanding of justice (Guajardo Córdoba, 2020). Understanding oppression brings an unwavering focus on root causes and harmful outcomes to discourse related to justice.…”

“…Both the term inequity and critical theory have been criticized for avoiding attention to social structures and causes (Arcaya et al, 2015;Sayer, 2009). Occupational justice (Townsend & Wilcock, 2004) has also been criticized for not adequately addressing causes that determine social inequalities (Guajardo Córdoba, 2020). With oppression, the idea of an "oppressor" insists upon examination of the people and structures that contribute to and benefit from harm (Clifford, 2016).…”