Brazilian occupational apartheid: historical legacy and prospects for occupational therapists

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Since the colonization of Brazil in 1500, systemic, institutional, and relational racism has produced inequalities for its black and indigenous people. This legacy perpetuates white supremacy and intensifies social inequalities. PURPOSE: This Opinion Piece aims to raise reflexivity on racism in Brazil and its impacts on the occupations of black people within the context of occupational apartheid. KEY ISSUES: We start exploring social justice and occupational justice concepts to map a methodological path for the theoretically informed discussion. Then, we discuss the concept of collective occupations as a possibility for intervention in the face of racial inequalities and introduce some occupational therapy practices to exemplify strategies to tackle the identified challenges. IMPLICATIONS: We conclude by showing that the field of ethnic-racial relations is still only minimally explored in Brazilian occupational therapy. We also point out some possibilities for further studies in the area.

The impacts of racisms on the occupations of the Black population: reflections for occupational therapy and science

“…Occupational therapists and scientists from several countries have discussed the impacts of racisms on the occupations of the Black population (Ambrosio et al, 2021;Beagan;Etowa, 2009;Faria;Leite Junior;Costa, 2018;Johnson;Lavalley, 2021;Martins, 2021;Pereira et al, 2021;Pereira, 2022;Allegretti;Magalhães, 2022;Magalhães, 2022). As we have mentioned, racisms are not a problem at the individual level, but a system rooted in societies, which is present in its structures, in public and private institutions, in social relations, and in significant occupations.…”

“…This racial separatism lasted for many years, and due to the struggle of the Black Movements and with the international support against apartheid, racial segregation imposed by law ceased to exist in South Africa and in the United States (Casseres, 2020). In Brazil, while apartheid was never instituted by law, intellectuals emphasize that both eugenics theories and racial democracy fostered racial segregation within the daily life of society (Ambrosio;Coelho;Magalhães, 2022;Casseres, 2020). Thus, it can be said that, due to the configurations of racism in Brazil, a Brazilian apartheid was instituted, in analogy to Brazilian racism, because it is always veiled and/or discredited, even though it continues to be reproduced within society (Gonzalez, 1983).…”

Os impactos dos racismos nas ocupações da população negra: reflexões para a terapia e a ciência ocupacional

“…Esse separatismo racial durou por muitos anos e, devido à luta dos Movimentos Negros e ao apoio internacional contra o apartheid, a segregação racial imposta por lei deixou de existir na África do Sul e nos Estados Unidos (Casseres, 2020). No entanto, embora no Brasil o apartheid jamais tenha sido instituído por lei, intelectuais enfatizam que, no país, tanto as teorias eugenistas quanto a democracia racial fomentaram a segregação racial no cotidiano da sociedade (Ambrosio;Coelho;Magalhães, 2022;Casseres, 2020). Sendo assim, pode-se dizer que, devido às configurações dos racismos no Brasil, um apartheid à brasileira foi instituído, em analogia ao racismo à brasileira, pois é sempre velado e/ou desacreditado, ainda que siga sendo reproduzido na sociedade (Gonzalez, 1983).…”

Focusing on “what matters”: the Occupation, Capability and Wellbeing Framework for Occupational Therapy

“…Since the 1970s, a group of Brazilian occupational therapists working "from a critical standpoint" (Galheigo, 2005, p. 91) has been advancing socially-focused approaches to occupational therapy designed to address the structural inequities that shape people's occupational opportunities and their lives (Ambrosio et al, 2022;Barros et al, 2005;Barros et al, 2011;Galheigo, 2011aGalheigo, , 2011bGalheigo, , 2014Galheigo, , 2018Galheigo, , 2021Malfitano, 2022;Malfitano et al, 2014a;Malfitano et al, 2014b;Malfitano et al, 2019). Central to these endeavours has been a sustained effort to challenge the myriad ways in which sociallystructured problems are portrayed as personal matters (Barros et al, 2011), and to promote social occupational therapy: practices focused on assuring occupational engagement, social inclusion and participation, and the individual and collective autonomy necessary to envision and enact choices (Malfitano, 2022).…”