Explaining Collective Occupations from a Human Relations Perspective: Bridging the Individual-Collective Dichotomy

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For over a decade, debates in occupational therapy have extended into the profession's theoretical foundations as well as epistemological underpinnings thereof A series of proposals have emerged from around the world that aim to link the definition of occupational therapy, its knowledge and practices to contemporary social, political, cultural and economic conditions. Contributing to this is the increasing precariousness of the global social life, the economic crises of many social systems, and the deterioration of the ecological environment. The current paper critically reflects on the historical conditions that shape the institution of occupational therapy, particularly in the regions of South America and Africa. This involves a political, ethical, and epistemological rethinking of the foundations that underpin identities, knowledge and practices of occupational therapy and their effects on society. These foundations may favour processes of exclusion and ahistorical and individualist views of human occupation, as opposed to social perspectives expressed in collective occupations and human rights promoting practices. The authors propose to problematise the construction of a professional identity, knowledge and practices of occupational therapy, emphasising the need for a liberating discipline, committed to and acting alongside people and communities who are in situations of social exclusion. This implies the necessary positioning of occupational therapy within social transformation. Key words: Southern, critical, epistemologies, human occupation, human rights

Section: Emerging Southern Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Southern occupational therapies: Emerging identities, epistemologies and practices

Guajardo

Kronenberg²,

Ramugondo

2015

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“…Joubert's doctoral study problematised this birth as it gave rise to a 'flawed epistemology', because of its origins within a Eurocentric, paternalistic and male dominated health milieu under the influence of the medical model; the unnatural, oppressive nature of governance at the time; and the design of curricula and research was inadequately informed, leaving out disabled people and the diverse majority population of the country 31 . However valid this critique may still be, the past decade also bears evidence of relevant contributions by South Africans to globally emergent rationalities (ideas and theories) of occupational therapy and occupational science 32 : two WFOT keynotes 33,34 ; several new concepts: occupational choice 35 ; occupational consciousness 36 ; collective occupations 37 ; Fanonian practices 38 . And also significant, in 2018 South Africa will be hosting the 17 th World Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, themed 'Connected through Diversity, Positioned for Impact', for the first time ever on the African continent (see Guajardo, Kronenberg & Ramugondo in this Edition).…”

Section: Positioning and Preparedness Of Occupational Therapy And Occmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Box 1 on page 23 depicts the interplay of dominant and emergent (ope)rationalities (rationalities put into practice) evident in contemporary occupational therapy and occupational science literature 3,5,32,36,37,39,40,41,42,43 . Box 1 suggests that the dominant rationalities favour individualism, are a-historical and a-critical, embrace modernity and a monocultural worldview, support scientific evidence based practice and subscribe, often inadvertently or unthinkingly 44 , to neo-liberal market forces (see Guajardo, Kronenberg and Ramugondo paper in this Edition).…”

Section: Positioning and Preparedness Of Occupational Therapy And Occmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can post-apartheid South Africa be enabled to humanise and heal itself?

Kronenberg¹,

Kathard

Rudman³

et al. 2015

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“…Aligning with a critical practice of occupational therapy, the significance of social connectedness in shaping the women street traders' actions and ends-in-view suggests room for generating knowledge around the meaning and influence of collective participation on work occupations, particularly in the informal sector. While the influence of collective occupations 37 has been considered, we believe that the profession has yet to explore the deeper, nuanced understandings of the connections between human occupation, collective occupations and well-being 38 . This is supported by the call for a practice that addresses transactions between social contexts and human occupation 17,39,32 .…”

Section: Implications For Occupational Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Women's experiences of informal street trading and well-being in Cape Town, South Africa

Sassen¹,

Galvaan²,

Duncan³

2018

BACKGROUND: Street trading is one of the largest sub-categories in South Africa's booming informal economy. RESEARCH PROBLEM: The scarcity of occupational science/therapy literature around informal economy occupations limits the profession from understanding their implications for well-being and development. RESEARCH PURPOSE: Contextually relevant conceptions of survivalist occupations such as street trade will inform occupational therapy practice for social change and development. RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to describe women street traders' experiences of street trading and well-being. The objectives were to identify the positive and negative well-being outcomes of engagement in street trading and to identify the social, economic and political factors that influence the well-being of women street traders. RESEARCH DESIGN: An ethnographic inquiry was carried out with four women survivalist street traders identified through purposive sampling. RESEARCH METHODS: Participant observation and in-depth one-on-one ethnographic and photo elicitation interviews were carried out with each participant. DATA ANALYSIS: Audio recordings were transcribed for inductive and thematic cross case analysis. FINDINGS: The qualitative essence of street traders' experiences of navigating a livelihood in the fluid and unstable context of the informal economy was captured in one theme, 'Togetherness: steering against the current towards a better life'. The theme comprised three categories: 'Taking the helm', 'Facing tough conditions' and 'We're in the same boat'. DISCUSSION: Street trading is a valued means for taking action towards economic survival and well-being. The contextually situated nature of this occupation translated to both adverse and advantageous experiences, resulting in a nuanced sense of well-being as thriving while surviving. CONCLUSION: Women's well-being as street traders is primarily determined by the quality of their collective camaraderie, social connectedness and personal drive. Key words: Street trading, informal economy occupations, well-being, occupational injustice, social connectedness