Expanding beyond individualism: Engaging critical perspectives on occupation

Abstract

In expanding beyond individualistic analyses of occupation, critical perspectives advance research and practices towards addressing socio-political mediators of occupational engagement and equity.

Capabilities, Opportunities, Resources and Environments (CORE): Using the CORE approach for inclusive, occupation‐centred practice

“…Critical reflection is a process of making sense of practice experiences and connections between practice and theory, which is needed to turn experience into learning (Boud, Keogh, & Walker, ). The critical aspect of reflection means to challenge preconceptions or existing views using theory, enabling new ways of thinking, knowing and practising to emerge (Gerlach, Teachman, Laliberte‐Rudman, Aldrich, & Huot, ). The case narrative presented from the forensic mental health setting incorporates data from a multi‐phased qualitative study which included both individual interviews and focus groups (New South Wales Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network Research Ethics Committee approval on 3 October 2017, reference: LNR/17/JH/8.…”

“…Aldrich, & Huot, 2017). The case narrative presented from the forensic mental health setting incorporates data from a multi-phased qualitative study which included both individual interviews and focus groups (New South Wales Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network Research Ethics Committee approval on 3 October 2017, reference: LNR/17/JH/8.…”

Occupational therapy and occupational science: building critical and transformative alliances

“…As well, it has increasingly involved calls for a transformative agenda that not only encompasses examining occupation as a means of social transformation, but also the taking up of moral and political responsibilities to engage in forms of social transformation that mobilize and address occupation (FARIAS; FRANK, 2012). This critical turn has been connected to an increasing recognition of an urgent need, particularly within contemporary neoliberal times characterized by growing inequalities and increasing individualization of social issues, to actively engage with pressing societal issues and their implications for occupation (GERLACH et al, 2017).…”

“…This critical turn has spurred scholarship that has critically analyzed philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of occupational science, and smaller bodies of scholarship addressing how inequities and injustices are shaped and perpetuated (FARIAS; . Key characteristics of critical scholarship evident within this growing body of work include: a questioning stance towards the 'status quo', that is, towards taken-for-granted ways of understanding and addressing occupational and social issues within and outside of the discipline; attention to the social, political, historical, economic and cultural forces that differentially shape occupation; and examination of the ways social relations of power shape and perpetuate occupational inequities and injustices (GERLACH et al, 2017;RUDMAN, 2013). However, transformative aspects of critical work that involve embracing an activist stance and working with communities to transform structures, systems and practices that sustain inequities and injustices remain more a call than a reality (FARIAS; RUDMAN, 2016; HOCKING; WHITEFORD, 2012).…”

“…As part of the 'critical turn in OS, there has been an explosion of critically reflexive work regarding it conditions of possibility (FARIAS; RUDMAN, 2013). A very prominent critique has been that occupational science scholarship has been underpinned by individualistic assumptions, which combined with the predominance of a Western worldview, has meant that there has been a focus on understanding individual experience of and authority over occupation, resulting in under-attention to the processes through which macro-level environmental elements differentially shape occupation in ways that contribute to inequities and injustices (GALVAAN, 2015;GERLACH et al, 2017). Moreover, the Western worldview has meant that a particular model of science tied to positivist and post-positivist assumptions, such as the need for value-free research and universals, has tended to underpin occupation-focused scholarship.…”