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

Abstract

Background. Occupational therapy and occupational science literature include growing attention to issues of justice, marginalization, and rights. In contrast, the concept of oppression has scarcely been employed. Purpose. This paper investigates how adding the concept of oppression may enhance occupational therapy approaches to injustice, prioritizing a focus on structural causes, and facilitating conscientious action. Method. A critical interpretive synthesis explored insights from authors who name oppressions in occupational therapy and occupational science literature. In total, a sample of 28 papers addressing oppression, ableism, ageism, classism, colonialism, heterosexism, racism, and/or sexism was selected for inclusion. Findings. Four themes were identified: oppression and everyday doing; effects of structures and power; responding and resisting; and oppression within occupational therapy. Implications. Incorporating oppression within the plurality of social discourse may help occupational therapists to avoid individualistic explanations, attend to relationships between social structures and constrained occupations, frame intersectional analysis, and engage in praxis.

Brazilian occupational apartheid: historical legacy and prospects for occupational therapists

“…Beagan et al 29 point out that in occupational therapy, the scholarly work on occupations in relation to colonial oppression is incipient, especially considering race. Commonly, occupations are conceptualized based on Northern-Western perspectives, resulting in the marginalization and invisibility of non-white groups 29,30 . According to Lee 28 , the perspectives on occupation are based on western epistemologies around the world.…”