Equality , diversity and belonging
Feature
For some of us , the pressure of having to carefully consider if and when to ‘ come out ’ was intensified during our studies . Unfortunately , these questions continue to be necessary for many LGBTQIA + students and practitioners .
Our experiences
Rachael ( she / her ) is a gay , cis-woman , who qualified as an occupational therapist in 2017 . She says : ‘ My sexual orientation is something that I struggled with for many years . Never did I imagine , after finally reaching a position where I felt able to be “ out and proud ”, that I would be somewhat forced back into the closet .
‘ But that is exactly what I experienced during some of my occupational therapy practice placements . There was very limited acknowledgement of , or support for , LGBTQIA + occupational therapy students when I was studying .
‘ Until the formation of our affinity group , there has been virtually no representation or support for anybody that identifies as LGBTQIA + within the occupational therapy profession . For a profession that prides itself on working holistically and without discrimination , we would do well to extend that to one another .’
Ed ( he / him ) is a gay , Hakka , cis-male who qualified in 1999 . He adds : ‘ I went to school during the era of Section 28 , but I was “ out ” in sixth form and at university . However , during placements I retreated back into the closet . I was careful when discussing my personal life and referred to my boyfriend as “ my partner ”.
‘ I had no idea how my educators and their colleagues would change their perception of me if I came out to them . It distresses me to hear that after over 20 years , students and colleagues continue to experience harassment by my peers and their colleagues .’
Eva ( she / her ), a bisexual , cisgendered occupational therapy student , due to qualify this year , shares her experience : ‘ Although I am out in my personal and professional life , on placement I have often found
Evidence link
Swenson et al ( 2021 ), in a qualitative study that adopted a queer methodological approach , explored how gender expression related to engagement in occupations and spaces inhabited for five people who defined as transgender , non-binary or genderqueer . Most participants were interviewed three times over a one-year period , including a ‘ walking interview ’. Analysis was informed by new materialism . The findings are presented in terms of territorialisation and de-territorialisation : how engagement in occupations can stabilise / reinforce binary expressions of gender ; or enable authentic and creative gender expression , recognition and belonging . The authors identify a role for occupational therapists in supporting people to access occupations which facilitate their authentic gender expression , as well as a need to improve critical awareness of the culturally encoded binary nature of many occupations and environments .
Swenson R , Alldred P , Nicholls L ( 2021 ) Doing gender and being gendered through occupation : transgender and non-binary experiences . British Journal of Occupational Therapy , Sep 10 . [ Epub ahead of print ].
myself uncomfortably avoiding mentioning my wife .
‘ It can feel like it would be deemed inappropriate even in situations where mentioning a husband would go without notice .’
Coming together to launch the LGBTQIA + OT community
Acknowledging the need for overdue change , and inspired by the relentless activism of the BAMEOT UK network , a small number of like-minded
February 2022 OTnews 21