OCT 1111
CHAPTER 10 (pg.221-242)
When People Cannot Participate: Occupational Deprivation
Occupational Disruption
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Producing Factors: internal or individual (ex. Illness, relocation, new job,
grieving, picking up a night shift)
Temporary
Given supportive conditions, temporary state can be resolved
Sometimes people return with an enhanced level of occupational functioning
having reflected on the importance of that occupation during the disruption
Occupational Deprivation
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Producing Factors: social, economic, environmental, geographical, historic,
cultural, or political
Situations and conditions that exist outside people, depriving them of important
occupational opportunities beyond their immediate control (ex. Prolonged
isolation, confinement, war)
External/environmental forces cause the deprivation
5 globally recognizable examples of occupational deprivation
1) GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
- prolonged geographic distance from others (ex. Australia- central desert
communities…mostly aboriginals)
- lack of resources and opportunities
- being geographically isolated, unable to participate in occupations that are
meaningful and rewarding
*hopefully the impact of technology can change this…(internet)
2) PROBLEM CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Paid employment has become one of the main descriptors of someone’s identity
(i.e. what do you do?) and plays a role in social acceptance and social status.
These perceptions are shaped by social and cultural value systems.
- Availability or demands are NOT equal with need
- Shifting demographics- people are living longer and healthier, therefore people
are working longer = less turnover
- Unemployment- -ve impact on physical and mental health
Advances in technology result in decrease employment opportunities
(replaced blue collar workforce)
- Under-employment- under occupied in the paid workforce or in other aspects of
daily life
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Over-employment- change in demand (ex. Work longer, unpaid hrs) that creates a
competitive environment with fear of downsizing. As a result people are not
living BALANCED occupational lives.
-do more at work but contribute less to the community (have little or no
discretionary time) = stress b/c they are doing too much
3)
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INCARCERATION
Deprivation of liberty
Withdraws opportunities to participate in occupations
Institutional life imposes restrictions on occupational choice (safety- tool use
restricted due to potential of harm to oneself and others)
“stir crazy”- -ve effect of being deprived of opportunities for normal occupational
engagement (ex. Disorientation, depression, rioting, psychosis from isolation and
inactivity)
The occupations of daily life provide regular routines that situate us in time.
Incarceration neglects the idea of time and therefore inmates do not orient with
the external world
Deprives inmates opportunity to participate in special occasions (shopping for
family birthdays )
Occupational deprivation in inmates has a strong influence on the success rate of
the ability to be reintegrated into communities.
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4) SEX ROLE STEREOTYPING: GENDERED CONSTRUCTIONS OF
OCCUPATIONAL DEPRIVATION FOR WOMEN
- Social judgements made about what roles women and men typically should and
should not do.
- Religious and cultural sanction deny women certain occupational behaviour
- Biological argument- reproduction
- Division of labour- women are still expected to take on more of the child rearing
tasks and remain employed resulting in fewer if not any time for recreation and
leisure.
5) REFUGEEISM: DISPLACEMENT AND DISLOCATION OF REFUGEES
- Displacement- because refugees may live in a number of different temporary
facilities, their fate is often unknown. Usually, refugees do not engage in the
same occupations that at home gave them meaning.
- Dislocation- tools, facilities, etc. are lacking, it creates a problem where refugees
are not able to participate in meaningful and purposeful occupations
- Language barriers-language skills limit the opportunity for occupations of paid
employment or educational opportunities
- Social isolation- depriving people from interacting with others b/c of language
barriers
- Dislocated physically and socially from familiar environments.
6) DISABILITY AND OCCUPATIONAL DEPRIVATION
- Able-bodied people seem to stereotype what someone with a disability should and
should not do.
- Environment- can enable or inhibit occupational engagement, “often a change in
the environment can foster independence far more readily than a change in the
individual”
- Barrier free environment- facilitates engagement in occupation
- Assistive technology-engage in meaningful occupation
- Reasonable accommodation- modification of a physical, social, or emotional
environment to enhance the occupational performance of individuals or groups
- Increase community education