"I drink": Mothers' alcohol consumption as both individualised and imposed occupation

Abstract

"I drink": Mothers' alcohol consumption as both individualised and imposed occupation Lizahn G Cloete BSc OT (UWC); MSc OT (UCT); PhD OT (UCT)Lecturer

Meaning and purpose in the occupations of gang-involved young men in Cape Town

“…Occupational choice can be limited by historical, political and socio-economic factors 22 . In a study of maternal alcohol consumption in a low socio-economic, rural community in the Western Cape, Cloete 23:38 introduced the concept of 'imposed occupation' which is the 'continuation of occupations that are not of choice, but rather as a result of structural (cultural, economic and political) entrenchment'. In the current study, the young men's involvement in gangs and related occupations may be regarded as an example of imposed occupation, due in part, to limited occupational choice, with occupational deprivation being the result.…”

Theorising about human occupation

“…She explores how power operates through ageism in ways that shape what people come to take for granted regarding occupation in relation to age. Drawing on the stories of three marginalised women who abuse alcohol during pregnancy, Cloete and Ramugondo provide evidence for theorising the ways in which structural entrenchment, as a feature of inter-generational poverty, may lead to imposed occupations 14 . They point to the need for theorising that takes account of the historical, cultural, economic and political conditions that perpetuate occupational inequities.…”

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in South Africa

“…This code of silence and alcohol abuse in families/communities might have led to the belief that some communities have 'a culture of drinking'. Cloete and Ramugondo (2015) postulate that with the information available there is still little understanding of how culture, economy and politics contribute to the marginalization of women who drink during pregnancy. They further state that personal deficiencies in some cultures and the link between individuals and their respective cultures, and the context in which they live, work and interact in society, need more investigation.…”

“…With futures bleak as a result of limitations due to their circumstances, low educational levels, a lack of future planning and inability to break out of the cycle, the women in the study group have given up hope. Excessive alcohol use, daily hardships of life and loss of hope are part of their daily existence (Cloete & Ramugondo, 2015). The researchers are of the opinion that some women might experience the scars of oppression (e.g.…”

“…The researchers are of the opinion that some women might experience the scars of oppression (e.g. due to the Apartheid system or submissive role of woman in some cultures) which presents as subjectivity, suppressed emotional expression, dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, a higher prevalence of mental health problems and substance abuse (Cloete et al, 2015).…”