LGBT people and Occupational Science: a literature review

Abstract

Objective

To know the investigations within occupational science that involve the LGBT population.

Methodology

A literature review was performed using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and EBSCOhost, and a direct query in the list of references.

Results

24 articles were selected to be analyzed and grouped into 3 general categories according to the type of group belonging to the LGBT population that was studied. The categories were (1) trans people and occupation, (2) gay men and occupation, and (3) lesbian women and occupation. These categories, in turn, were divided into specific thematic axes.

Conclusion

Occupational science studies have covered the occupational experiences of LGBT people in a limited way. Occupational transition and gender performativity through occupation are issues that are addressed transversally in most categories of analysis. A lack of intersectional approach is highlighted in emerging research to be able to understand in a more complex way the occupation and the structures of exclusion and discrimination experienced by LGBT people.

Keywords:
Gender Diversity; Sexual Dissidents; Gender Studies; Occupational Therapy

Resumen

Objetivo

Conocer las investigaciones dentro de la Ciencia Ocupacional que involucran a la población LGBT.

Metodología

Se realizó una revisión de literatura utilizando las siguientes bases de datos PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS y EBSCOhost y una consulta directa en el listado de referencias.

Resultados

Se seleccionaron 24 artículos para ser analizados y se agruparon en 3 categorías generales según el tipo de grupo perteneciente a la población LGBT que se estudió. Las categorías que fueron (1) personas trans y ocupación, (2) hombres gays y ocupación y (3) mujeres lesbianas y ocupación. Estas categorías a su vez fueron divididas en ejes temáticas específicos.

Conclusion

Los estudios desde la ciencia ocupacional han abarcado de forma acotada las experiencias ocupacionales de las personas LGBT. La transición ocupacional y la performatividad del género a través de la ocupación son temas que se abordan de manera transversal en la mayoría de las categorías de análisis. Se destaca una falta de enfoque interseccional en las investigaciones emergentes para poder comprender de manera más compleja la ocupación y las estructuras de exclusión y discriminación que viven las personas LGBT.

Palabras clave:
Diversidad de Género; Disidentes Sexuales; Estudios de Género; Terapia Ocupacional

Resumo

Objetivo

Conhecer as investigações dentro da Ciência Ocupacional que envolvem a população LGBT.

Metodologia

Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura utilizando as seguintes bases de dados: PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS e EBSCOhost, e uma consulta direta na lista de referências.

Resultados

24 artigos foram selecionados para serem analisados e agrupados em 3 categorias gerais de acordo com o tipo de grupo pertencente à população LGBT estudada. As categorias foram (1) pessoas trans e ocupação, (2) homens gays e ocupação e (3) mulheres lésbicas e ocupação. Essas categorias, por sua vez, foram divididas em eixos temáticos específicos.

Conclusão

Os estudos da ciência ocupacional têm abordado de forma limitada as experiências ocupacionais de pessoas LGBT. A transição ocupacional e a performatividade de gênero através da ocupação são questões abordadas de forma transversal na generalidade das categorias de análise. A falta de abordagem interseccional é destacada em pesquisas emergentes para poder compreender de forma mais complexa a ocupação e as estruturas de exclusão e discriminação vivenciadas por pessoas LGBT.

Palavras-chave:
Diversidade de Gênero; Dissidentes Sexuais; Estudos de Gênero; Terapia Ocupacional

Introduction

Despite the many efforts by international organizations, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual/transgender/transvestite (LGBT) people continue to suffer discrimination and acts of violence in different contexts (OutRight Action International, 2022). Thus, many of them are immersed in a context of injustice and inequality that limits their work and the full performance of their occupations along with the exercise of their rights (Dowers et al., 2019; Fuentes-Barahona et al., 2022; Leite & Lopes, 2022).

From Occupational Science, sexual orientation and gender identity have been understood as a relevant aspect of the occupational nature of the human being (Jackson, 1995). Thus, Occupational Science has been understood as having the potential to address social needs from a critical and comprehensive exploration commitment to the multiple layers that surround the occupation (Calhoun, 2021; Frank, 2022) and in particular, what happens with the LGBT people.

Accepting this commitment, we support the understanding that sexuality is inherent to the person and that “sexual identity influences the experience and sense of occupations in daily life” (Devine & Nolan, 2007, p. 158), therefore dimensions such as sexual orientation and gender identity should be considered when understanding ourselves as occupational beings. In this process, it is important to understand the heteronormative hegemonic context, the political and sociocultural aspects that determine the choice and orchestration of occupations that allow LGBT people to build their own occupational identity (Almeida, 2022).

In this context, and considering as a reference a review that has linked LGBT people with Occupational Therapy (Leite & Lopes, 2022), we specifically ask ourselves how Occupational Science is studying the occupations of LGBT people. In particular, the question that guides the construction of this article is: what has been studied, from Occupational Science, in relation to LGBT people? To answer this question, we conducted a literature review seeking to identify, categorize, and analyze the existing literature on LGBT people and Occupational Science.

Methodology

We used a literature review (Arksey & O’Malley, 2005), using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS and EBSCOhost, between August and September 2022, accessing them through the Virtual Library of the University of Chile. In the search, the years of age of the articles were not included as a filter because we intended to analyze the literature that has been published up to September 2022.

The search engines used corresponded to keywords in English that refer to people who make up the LGBT population: “lesbian”, “gay”, “bisexual”, “transgender”, “transsexuali*”, “transvestite” and “lgbt*”., plus “intersex”, “queer”; We also incorporated concepts related to and commonly used in studies on this subject to broaden the search: “gender identity”, “gender studies”, “gender transition”, “sexual orientation”, sexual diversity”, “coming out” and “homosexuality” . We combined all these aforementioned search engines with the term “occupational science” or “occupation science”, which was the area of the subject in which we oriented the review, with the Boolean search engine “AND”.

For the selection of texts we examined the title, the keywords, the abstract, the results and the conclusions they presented and all the decisions or agreements were defined based on the group discussion. Articles from academic journals in which their study was focused on issues related to LGBT people, approached from Occupational Science were included. In addition, articles from the list of references of the articles were incorporated into the selection. We excluded articles that, although they call for expanding the dimensions of the study of occupation by incorporating topics such as sexual orientation, gender roles or sexual identity or that criticize the training of occupational therapists in this area, do not focus on LGBT people, nor the occupational dilemmas they may experience, or Occupational Science as a reference.

With the selected articles, we created an Excel spreadsheet to record information such as: title of the publication, name of the authors, year of publication, journal in which it was published, main ideas of the research, study population, and the findings or the conclusions reached. We read the full texts and discussed the content of each article to identify how it answered the research question initially posed, leading to a detailed analysis that allowed us to group them thematically in relation to the study population they used.

Results and Analysis

As a result of the bibliographic search process (Figure 1) we identified 190 articles, where 187 were from the database search and 3 corresponded to a manual search, from the list of references of some articles. After reviewing the returned texts, we excluded duplicates, leaving 65 articles from which we read the keywords and abstract, excluding 28 that did not address the search topic. We read 37 full texts to determine those that were eligible in response to the research question, resulting in 24 articles selected for analysis.

Figure 1
Flowchart for the articles selection for the literature review.

Of the selected articles, the oldest was published in the year 1999, followed by one published in the year 2000, which accounts for a period of 5 years in which there were no researches until 2005. For several years, the publications within the Occupational Science regarding the subject were scarce, where only one article per year or none was published. Since 2019, there has been a boom in the number of articles published in journals of the area.

For the analysis of the articles, we classified them into categories according to the study group or population on which the research is based, these were: (1) trans people (transgender, transsexual, transvestite); (2) homosexual/gay men; and (3) lesbian women. It is important to mention that some texts were included both for the category of homosexual men and lesbian women, so the descriptions that we made take into account the sections that referred to these people. Through the analysis, we sought to understand the type of research carried out with the LGBT population, the conclusions reached by the studies and to know the topics that are usually addressed. The selected articles are marked by an asterisk (*) in the bibliographical references section.

Trans people and occupation

Nine texts were included in this category. This category was subdivided according to the referred topics, which are: transphobia; the occupation between cisnormativity; occupations as a means to concretize the Trans identity.

Transphobia

One of the most mentioned aspects in the articles regarding trans people has been the discrimination and historical institutional/social violence that they experience every day, expressed in hate crimes (Fuentes-Barahona et al., 2022), rejection (Dowers et al., 2019). This includes the normative perception regarding expulsion from home, threats against life and family rejection of those who are victims (Dowers et al., 2019). These situations generate occupational deprivation, labor marginalization and few educational and work opportunities (Phoenix & Ghul, 2016), in addition to the loss of relationships and occupational restriction (Beagan et al., 2012; Beagan & Hattie, 2015).

In addition, there is a trend of common rejection by health professionals, regarding the health and diagnoses of trans people, called “Trans Broken Arm Syndrome” (Dowers & Eshin, 2020, p. 214), where the reason for consultation or health complications are related to gender identity, being understood as the cause of the problem and, therefore, they get rid of their responsibility since this would be beyond what they can do or the knowledge they have received during their training (Dowers & Eshin, 2020).

These articles show how transphobia is settled in society from a binary and heteronormative logic, where Trans people threaten and transgress the established gender patterns (Gómez-Antilef et al., 2020). Thus, a political, cultural and social context that violates their rights is identified, which has a negative impact on performance, commitment and occupational participation, both collectively and individually (Fuentes-Barahona et al., 2022).

The occupation between cisnormativity

This group of articles evidenced how the occupation carried out by trans people occurred in cisnormative contexts, understanding cisnormativity¹ as the Western cultural belief about the correspondence between gender (male/female) and sex (man/woman) (Dowers et al., 2019).

Considering the above, it is mentioned that cisnormativity is settled in a generalized nature, from where social marginalization towards people who do not conform to the assigned gender arises (Dowers et al., 2019) and other types of discrimination and invalidation of the trans person, since gender and its comprehension have been constituted as necessarily binary, even extending its nuances to the legal and dominant medical speech (Dowers & Eshin, 2020). So, “doing gender” by Trans people tends to have a more accentuated and notorious form of expression than cisgender people, since it challenges the expectations and norms in society that have become common around gender roles (Schneider et al., 2018).

In addition, based on this system from which networks of power that operate in an intersectional way are articulated, forms of surveillance that are maintained over time arise, which are violent and affect occupational experiences, generating occupational injustice for trans people, which is called “binary gender policing” (Dowers et al., 2019). being through this “cisnormative lens”, the way in which occupational participation and engagement opportunities take shape, based on idealized subjectivities that are reflected in society (Dowers et al., 2019). Finally, it becomes evident that a culturally situated understanding of the Trans experience is needed, since without it the action of a domination system from the “socially accepted” component of the occupational form would be allowed, establishing regulations that call for all to perform as a cisnormativity (Fuentes-Barahona et al., 2022; Gómez-Antilef et al., 2020). In this regard, a critical perspective on binarisms becomes crucial, as suggested by McCarthy et al. (2020).

Occupations as a means to concretize the trans identity

This point describes various ways in which occupation, both individually and collectively, allows the trans identity to be specified during the process of transition and search for a lifestyle, where people can live according to their identity as gender.

Regarding the collective dimension of the occupation, virtual environments stand out where trans identities find a space for validation among peers, are legitimized and even perceived as common (Dowers et al., 2019). These environments facilitate the acceptance of one's own identity and contact with people who are living similar experiences (Beagan et al., 2012). However, regarding physical spaces, Trans people experience them as unsafe places where there is a greater possibility of transphobic manifestations (Dowers et al., 2019).

Thus, the way in which the ties between people who are experiencing the gender transition and all its challenges are initiated and maintained over time, refers us to the relationship between occupation and social identity, since both are shaped by the interaction they maintain among themselves, in a dialectical way (Beagan et al., 2012), without ceasing to be influenced by the possibilities of establishing interpersonal relationships, in a framework of social isolation due to the aforementioned.

Regarding the individual dimension of occupation in trans people, the concept of Occupational Transition stands out, which indicates occupational changes at specific moments in life, with the aim of exploring different alternatives based on reactions to life situations (Schneider et al., 2018). In this case, the life situation emerges when the person identifies as Trans and decides to start occupational changes, in order to advocate for a lifestyle according to their gender identity and expression. Based on the foregoing, the occupation takes different nuances and ways of happening, since through it the difference is made with respect to the cisnormative, binary and heterosexist patterns, where the exercise of suppressing or making the traits more evident that provide gender expression supports the construction of a gender identity faithful to what is felt by the person (Dowers et al., 2019). In addition, the construction of the Trans identity develops depending on the occupations that are no longer present, as well as those that arise and change to stay in the person's life, such as new self-care occupations, hygiene routines, medical/surgical procedures and grooming² (Gómez-Antilef et al., 2020).

Homosexual/gay men and occupation

In this category, 11 texts were included. These articles pointed to two main axes: the relationship between sexual orientation and occupations in the formation of identity; and the occupational experience of homosexual men.

Sexual orientation and occupations: identity formation

The findings of these articles pointed to the constant correlation that exists between sexual orientation and occupations (Avillo et al., 2015; Devine & Nolan, 2007; Godau & Langq, 2021; Hadden et al., 2020; Kingsley & Molineux, 2000; Lukas et al., 2021). On the one hand, sexual orientation is a determining factor when selecting and participating in daily life occupations, since identifying as gay influences the meaning given to occupations and the occupational experience itself; and, on the other hand, participation in significant occupations that homosexual people explore provides a means for adaptation and expression of identity.

Most of the articles focused on “coming out” and establishing one's identity, highlighting how identifying as gay modifies the symbolic value of occupations and that adopting that identity brings with it challenges, difficulties and changes, such as, for example the change or loss of family relationships (Devine & Nolan, 2007). As Hadden et al. (2020) mentions in his article, people with a sexual orientation in dispute with heteronormativity do not have total freedom to make decisions about carrying out their occupations, because freedom is given by national policies and binary systems that govern society, causing them to be conditioned by rejection and discrimination.

In all the articles, the performance of significant occupations is highlighted, those that are built from one's own sexual identity around the cultural occupations that are part of their universe, as a mechanism that facilitates overcoming sociocultural obstacles, providing a means for the transition process. In these cases, the significant occupations were those that allowed them to interact with other people identified as gay, allowing them to find a role model (Avillo et al., 2015; Godau & Langq, 2021; Lukas et al., 2021). To achieve this, according to Hadden et al. (2020), several interviewees had to move to a more urban environment that facilitated networking, since this change gave them the opportunity to participate in occupations in the gay scene that allowed them to contact other homosexual people, expanding their occupational commitment and the choice of occupations.

Occupational experience of homosexual men

These articles aimed at understanding the experience of homosexual men in carrying out certain occupations and analyzing the meanings attributed to them. The occupations on which the texts based were: parenting, recreational methamphetamine use, religion/spirituality, and nightlife.

In the texts, it was possible to appreciate the differences in the symbolic value that those who identified as gays gave to the occupations, in comparison to those who fit within the heteronormative hegemony. For example, recreational methamphetamine use is considered an unauthorized occupation in most social contexts, but within gay male communities, it was an accepted occupation used primarily for social networking, making the occupational engagement to be seen not only individually, but also at the community level (Gish et al., 2020).

Other works (Almeida, 2020, 2022) focused on the value of nightlife (bars, parties, clubs) as a fundamental occupation in the daily life of homosexual men, which fosters a more permissive context for the formation of sexual identity and of genre. On the one hand, it was concluded that nightlife and the practices that were carried out there could become a symbol of political power, due to the sense of community, identification and belonging that it generates, considering that on platforms and in the media, there is a lack of objects of representation for gay people (Almeida, 2020). On the other hand, it was studied how the occupation can generate not only gender differences, but also race, class, style or generational differences, becoming visible in the same bars or clubs where gay people attend, allowing a more intersectional vision of the occupation as a place of “reproduction of social order” (Almeida, 2022, p. 65).

In addition, occupations that are experienced differently by people from the LGBT population are highlighted, due to the limitations that exist for the full exercise of their rights. For example, homoparental couples in Chile continue to experience restrictions on the exercise of their parenthood, violating their rights due to sociocultural and legal factors, suffering discrimination to assume their non-heterosexual identity in a family context (Morrison et al., 2020). Finally, other research examines the relationship between sexual identity and religious/spiritual occupations (Beagan & Hattie, 2015). The findings refer to how gay people experience a reduction in occupational engagement in spiritual occupations to which they belonged (before “coming out”). However, on the other hand, their occupational transition allowed them to freely explore spirituality, performing their own rites or spiritual practices.

Lesbian women and occupation

10 texts were included in this category. These texts mainly point to equity and equal rights, and the transition process.

Equity and equal rights

Some of the writings have in common the relationship between political, legal and governmental aspects with the performance of the occupations, which translates into environments of inequity and inequality of rights in various areas of their lives, such as maternity.

In the Chilean context, Morrison et al. (2020) delve into motherhood as an occupation chosen and desired by lesbian women and which, at the same time, corresponds to a legitimate right in their lives, but which is restricted when the legal context does not allow it. Their study showed that lesbian female couples, while facing many difficulties in their relationship with the State, might have a small advantage over gay male couples. This is due to the fact that within the patriarchal society it seems to be less harmful for two women to want to have a son or daughter in their care compared to two men. This is because care and upbringing tasks are naturalized in women, replicating gender stereotypes. However, their reality is not exempt from discrimination, little visibility of their rights, worrisome situations such as attacks or verbal violence that continue to prevail.

Hadden et al. (2020) address the issue of equal rights for people who identify as lesbians in Ireland, but from the concept of occupational justice. They mention that it is not denied that progress has been made in the recognition and support of the rights of these people, but that there are still problems at the level of occupational justice that are influenced by the lack of consideration of fundamental dimensions of the person, such as sexual orientation, by health professionals. It must be considered that occupational justice is a complex and dynamic process for each individual, so the different professionals who work with LGBTQ people, such as occupational therapists, must consider the occupation in its entirety, without taboos, although unfortunately it is an aspect that Kingsley & Molineux (2000) found that still needs to be developed.

Twinley (2017), from the sphere of rights of people who suffer abuse, focuses attention on an aspect of rights violation, declaring that the approach to rapes or sexual assaults from women on women and the way in which that impacts on occupations at work is a concern. The findings indicated that these women had difficulties in the development of their identity, presented different negative emotions and interrupt their roles and occupations, not being able to participate in their usual occupations, since this type of crime in the world is underestimated, unnoticed, ignored, so it is not addressed in the way it should be.

Finally, Bailey & Jackson (2005) studied the occupation of household financial management in lesbian couples. It refers to the fact that most couples had an unequal financial relationship in common, so a plan was agreed upon where both parties were comfortable and satisfied. According to the findings, being female couples, they used more dynamic and variable methods such as giving and receiving, recognizing the skills of others, and respecting the occupation of the other, always having the objective of achieving a sense of justice and balance over equality. As part of the same study, they asked themselves about the most relevant qualitative analysis strategies to study this type of situation (Bailey & Jackson, 2003).

Transition process

An interesting topic that Birkholtz & Blair (1999) manage to analyze is the transition experienced by women towards the recognition of being lesbian. The process of revealing a lesbian identity has an effect on occupational behavior at any age and culture, and there are certain occupations that allow a fuller transition and that can facilitate the process, for example, it is highlighted that leisure or work can provide great support during adaptation. Almeida (2020, 2022) and Almeida & Lugli (2018) state that nightlife for LGBT people is important for the development of the identity, since it is shaped by the occupation. When doing these types of activities with the partner, or choosing new occupations and environments that support sexual diversity, it helps to strengthen the identity and face different situations with greater confidence. In general, it is important to report that the occupational behavior of a lesbian woman is closely related to her transition process, that is, through a state of “doing” she reaches a state of “being” (Wilcock & Hockins, 2015).

Godau & Langq (2021) expose the process of “coming out” as an occupational transition, where a change of occupational identity is experienced. It is said that occupations are a fundamental element for the transition process and the establishment of an occupational identity, where through the participation of occupations with other homosexual people, they manage to acquire a sense of belonging and a search for models that help them to continue with their transition. This is a common point with the authors of the previous study (Almeida, 2020, 2022; Almeida & Lugli, 2018), but they also add that the complete transition does not occur in the first disclosure, but is constantly carried out as new social connections are being made in relation to heteronormative expectations.

Beagan & Hattie (2015) also address the transition process from the point of view of spiritual or religious occupations after people identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). The authors mention that the occupational transition implies exploration, competition and achievement, but also significant losses, where some participants lost faith, community, family relationships and religious occupational roles. However, in their study some of the participants held onto the faith traditions of their upbringing, others adopted new faith traditions, several created personal relationships with spirituality, and still others abandoned all the spiritual things.

Discussion and Conclusions

From this review, we can conclude that studies in Occupational Science have covered the experiences of LGBT people in a limited way. This is a situation similar to that described by Leite & Lopes (2022) in relation to occupational therapy. This makes us think about the reproduction of heteronormativity, establishing issues related to the LGBT population in both areas as a scarcely represented aspect.

Despite this, the articles analyzed develop interconnections between sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, from the LGBT population, with different perspectives on the occupation. By studying this occupational experience, it is possible to broaden the multidimensionality in the understanding of occupation in different contexts.

In this regard, these writings allow us to support the understanding of the complex nature of the occupational being (Wilcock & Hockins, 2015), allowing us to criticize that such an absence in the literature shows how people who dissent from the heteronorm have been made invisible and ignored by not conforming to a conception of the world governed by the interconnection and hegemony of heterosexism, compulsory heterosexuality and heteronormativity that, for many years, has determined and supported the Occupational Science approach (Cerón & Morrison, 2019; McCarthy et al., 2020; Morrison et al., 2021).

From this review, we recognize the relevance of considering sexuality and gender in Occupational Science, since they allow us to cover dimensions that participate in the formation of people's occupational identity, which is essential when it comes to better and fully understanding people’s behavior. On the other hand, these researches could contribute to the practice of occupational therapy, since they would favor a quality intervention truly centered on the person, by establishing a sincere, respectful and trusting relationship. This is consistent with a group of researches carried out by different authors who value gender in occupational therapy and science (Alonso-Ferreira et al., 2022; Correia et al., 2021; Goodman et al., 2007; Hammell, 2013; Jackson, 1998; Leite & Lopes, 2022; Monzeli, 2022; Morrison et al., 2021).

There are two aspects that we would like to highlight in this review, and that are constantly repeated in several of the articles reviewed. These are: the occupational transition and the construction of gender through occupation through performativity.

We understand occupational transition as a change that involves exploring new occupations, roles and meanings, developing new occupational competencies and acquiring skills that lead to a satisfactory occupational participation (Kielhofner, 2008; Maceira et al., 2018; Phoenix & Ghul, 2016; Shaw & Rudman, 2009). In this process, aspects such as education, schooling, going back to school, the social conditions that some people experience from their youth, such as the lack of emotional and economic support from the family, among many other aspects, are relevant issues in the occupational transition process (Beagan & Hattie, 2015).

Based on the above, we understand that LGBT people experience different types of occupational transition, whether linked to the process of “coming out” or to the adoption of a new gender identity and expression due to their socialization processes under heteronormativity. On some occasions, LGBT people stopped participating in occupations, on others they changed their meaning or explored new roles, incorporating new occupational commitments. It is fundamental to think about occupational transition processes against a heteronormative perspective, that is, to consider how the LGBT population faces these situations when their gender identity and expression are expected to be socially imposed, and to ask how, from occupational science, these issues can be addressed.

Along with the above, the occupational transition implies the construction of subjectivities, which influence doing and shape the occupations that are chosen and carried out (Dowers & Eshin, 2020; Gómez-Antilef et al., 2020). This allows us to consider gender performative acts as ways in which occupational choices are consolidated, since they constitute a means for occupational participation before, during, and after the occupational transition (Cerón & Morrison, 2019; Fuentes-Barahona et al., 2022). Thus, considering that performative acts have the potential to influence the socially accepted norms (Butler, 2009), with respect to heteronormativity, cisnormativity and binaryism, the occupational transition, through performativity acts, is transformative, both for homosexual people, Trans as well as for the LGBT population in general, since they introduce modifications through doing, to a hegemonic socio-cultural system that has imposed and defined the norm based on ruling dichotomies.

Finally, although the findings of the articles provide relevant information for the development of occupational science, the number of publications according to their themes is small and limited. In addition, as it has been described, there is a tendency to encompass or incorporate certain groups of the LGBT population over others. This makes queer, intersex, transvestite and non-binary to be people even less represented. In addition, little research had an intersectional approach and considered other phenomena that can be overlapped to generate the complex oppressive structures that lead to discrimination and exclusion of LGBT people.

Currently, a larger corpus of knowledge is being developed from occupational science, about sexual and gender dissidents, and that can dialogue more closely with Occupational Therapy outside of the hegemonic heteronormative conceptions, to generate a truly comprehensive practice.

• 1
  This term implies the tendency to compulsorily attribute a binary sex and gender to people, without allowing the emergence of subjective queer or non-binary gender possibilities (Gilbert, 2009).
• 2
  This has a very practical dimension with the roles of occupational therapists in caring for Trans people.
• How to cite: Morrison, R., Araya-Hernández, C., Arrué-Jara, V., & Césped-Olivares, D. (2023). LGBT people and Occupational Science: a literature review. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 31, e3506. https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoAR268535062

• Funding Source

  This article was funded by the National Research Agency (ANID) of Chile through the Fondecyt Initiation Research Project No. 11220183: “LGBTIQ+ families and political action of the Chilean state: kinship and filiation between relations of power and resistance”. It was awarded by Rodolfo Morrison in 2022.

Referencias

• Almeida, D. E. R. G. (2020). Política e resistência no lazer noturno homossexual. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 28(4), 1251-1267. https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO2102
  » https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO2102
• Almeida, D. E. R. G. (2022). Night-time leisure: gender and sexuality intersected by generation, style, and race in the São Paulo pop LGBTQ+ scene. Journal of Occupational Science, 29(1), 52-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2022.2038248
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2022.2038248
• Almeida, D. E. R. G., & Lugli, R. S. G. (2018). As cenas musicais como moldura analítica do lazer noturno: homossexualidades masculinas em perspectiva. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 26(4), 747-758. https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO1628
  » https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO1628
• Alonso-Ferreira, M., Farias, L., & Rivas-Quarneti, N. (2022). Addressing the gender construct in occupation-based research: a scoping review. Journal of Occupational Science, 29(2), 195-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2021.1955943
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2021.1955943
• Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology: Theory & Practice, 8(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/1364557032000119616
• Avillo, C., Barrientos, B., Fernández, J., Matus, C., Olivares, C., & Morrison, R. (2015). Context and occupational choices of adolescents that identify themselves as homosexuals. Revista Chilena de Terapia Ocupacional,15(2), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5346.2015.38157
  » https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5346.2015.38157
• Bailey, D. M., & Jackson, J. M. (2003). Qualitative data analysis: challenges and dilemmas related to theory and method. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(1), 57-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2005.9686549
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2005.9686549
• Bailey, D., & Jackson, J. (2005). The occupation of household financial management among lesbian couples. Journal of Occupational Science, 12(2), 57-68.
• Beagan, B. L., & Hattie, B. (2015). LGBTQ experiences with religion and spirituality: occupational transition and adaptation. Journal of Occupational Science, 22(4), 459-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2012.659169
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2012.659169
• Beagan, B., Souza, L., Godbout, C., Hamilton, L., MacLeod, J., Paynter, E., & Tobin, A. (2012). “This is the biggest thing you’ll ever do in your life”: exploring the occupations of transgendered people. Journal of Occupational Science, 19(3), 226-240.
• Birkholtz, M., & Blair, S. E. (1999). ‘Coming out’ and its impact on women’s occupational behaviour‐a discussion paper. Journal of Occupational Science, 6(2), 68-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.1999.9686453
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.1999.9686453
• Butler, J. (2009). Performatividad, precariedad y políticas sexuales. Antropólogos Iberoamericanos en Red, 4(3), 321-336.
• Calhoun, A. D. (2021). The development and future of occupational science: a budding occupational scientist’s reflections and assertions about the discipline. Journal of Occupational Science, 28(2), 193-207. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1801492
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1801492
• Cerón, N. P., & Morrison, R. (2019). Patriarcado, masculinidad hegemónica y ocupaciones: procesos de perpetuación del sexismo. Revista Argentina de Terapia Ocupacional, 5(1), 75-84. Recuperado el 17 de diciembre de 2022, de https://revista.terapia-ocupacional.org.ar/RATO/2019jul-ens.pdf
  » https://revista.terapia-ocupacional.org.ar/RATO/2019jul-ens.pdf
• Correia, R. L., Wertheime, L. G., Morrison, R., & Silva, C. R. (2021). Contemporary perspectives of occupational therapy in Latin America: contributions to the glocal dialogue. South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 51(4), 41-50. https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2021/vol51n4a6
  » https://doi.org/10.17159/2310-3833/2021/vol51n4a6
• Devine, R., & Nolan, C. (2007). Sexual identity & human occupation: a qualitative exploration. Journal of Occupational Science, 14(3), 154-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2007.9686596
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2007.9686596
• Dowers, E., & Eshin, K. (2020). Subjective experiences of a cisgender/transgender dichotomy: implications for occupation-focused research. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 40(3), 211-218. https://doi.org/10.1177/1539449220909102
  » https://doi.org/10.1177/1539449220909102
• Dowers, E., White, C., Kingsley, J., & Swenson, R. (2019). Transgender experiences of occupation and the environment: a scoping review. Journal of Occupational Science, 26(4), 496-510. https://doi.org/10.1177/1539449220909102
  » https://doi.org/10.1177/1539449220909102
• Frank, G. (2022). Occupational science’s stalled revolution and a manifesto for reconstruction. Journal of Occupational Science, 29(4), 455-477. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2022.2110658
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2022.2110658
• Fuentes-Barahona, M., Lara-Saldaña, C., Pfeifer-Fuentes, M., Zapata-Carrasco, S., Grandón-Valenzuela, D., & Morrison, R. (2022). Approach to the performance as a political strategy of resistance to occupational apartheid: the situation of transvestite people. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 30, e3127. https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoAO23953127
  » https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoAO23953127
• Gilbert, M. A. (2009). Defeating bigenderism: changing gender assumptions in the twenty-first century. Hypatia, 24(3), 93-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.2009.01047.x
  » https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.2009.01047.x
• Gish, A., Kiepek, N., & Beagan, B. (2020). Methamphetamine use among gay men: an interpretive review of a non-sanctioned occupation. Journal of Occupational Science, 27(1), 26-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2019.1643398
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2019.1643398
• Godau, K. G., & Langq, R. R. (2021). Homosexuelles coming-out als occupational transition zur Entwicklung der occupational identity. Ergoscience, 16(3), 91-93. https://doi.org/10.2443/skv-s-2021-54020210301
  » https://doi.org/10.2443/skv-s-2021-54020210301
• Gómez-Antilef, B. F., Heise-Barrera, C. A., Muñoz-Vidal, G. A., Velásquez-Bórquez, G. E., Verdugo-Álvarez, V. N., & Carrasco-Madariaga, J. S. (2020). Construcción de subjetividad trans a partir de la ocupación entendida como hacer, ser y llegar a ser. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 28(2), 419-435. https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO1960
  » https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO1960
• Goodman, J., Knotts, G., & Jackson, J. (2007). Doing dress and the construction of women’s gender identity. Journal of Occupational Science, 14(2), 100-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2007.9686590
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2007.9686590
• Hadden, L., O’Riordan, A., & Jackson, J. (2020). Shining a light on the daily occupational experiences of lesbian and gay adults’ in Ireland: applying an occupational justice lens. Irish Journal of Occupational Therapy, 48(2), 117-132. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOT-12-2019-0017
  » https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOT-12-2019-0017
• Hammell, K. R. (2013). Occupation, well-being, and culture: theory and cultural humility. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(4), 224-234. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417413500465
  » https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417413500465
• Jackson, J. (1995). Sexual orientation: its relevance to occupational science and the practice of occupational therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 49(7), 669-679. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.49.7.669
  » https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.49.7.669
• Jackson, J. (1998). Is there a place for role theory in occupational science? Journal of Occupational Science, 5(2), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.1998.9686434
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.1998.9686434
• Kielhofner, G. (2008). Model of human occupation: theory and application (4th ed.). Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Kingsley, P., & Molineux, M. (2000). True to our philosophy? Sexual orientation and occupation. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(5), 205-210. https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260006300504
  » https://doi.org/10.1177/030802260006300504
• Leite, J. D., & Lopes, R. E. (2022). Dissident genders and sexualities in the occupational therapy peer-reviewed literature: a scoping review. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(5), 7605205160. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.049322
  » https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.049322
• Lukas, M., Forsyth, L., Lee-Bunting, K., & Forwell, S. (2021). “This is me”: the transition of coming-out for gay men through an occupational perspective. Journal of Occupational Science, 30(2), 291-303. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2021.1981986
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2021.1981986
• Maceira, M., Rivas-Quarneti, N., & García, N. (2018). ‘I gave birth to him and he gave me my life’: study of occupational transition linked to motherhood of two women with mental disorders. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 26(2), 271-285. https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO1156
  » https://doi.org/10.4322/2526-8910.ctoAO1156
• McCarthy, K., Ballog, M., Carranza, M. M., & Lee, K. (2020). Doing nonbinary gender: the occupational experience of nonbinary persons in the environment. Journal of Occupational Science, 29(1), 36-51. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1804439
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1804439
• Monzeli, G. A. (2022). Social occupational therapy, social justice, and LGBTI+ population: with whom we produce our reflections and actions? Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional,30(Spe), e3095. https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoARF234130952
  » https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoARF234130952
• Morrison, R., Araya, L., Del Valle, J., Vidal, V., & Silva, K. (2020). Occupational apartheid and human rights: narratives of Chilean same-sex couples who want to be parents. Journal of Occupational Science, 27(1), 39-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1725782
  » https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2020.1725782
• Morrison, R., Silva, C. R., Correia, R. L., & Wertheimer, L. (2021). Por que uma Ciência Ocupacional na América Latina? Possíveis relações com a Terapia Ocupacional com base em uma perspectiva pragmatista. Cadernos Brasileiros de Terapia Ocupacional, 29, e2081. https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoEN2081
  » https://doi.org/10.1590/2526-8910.ctoEN2081
• OutRight Action International. (2022). Pride around the world in 2021 Recuperado el 11 de julio de 2023, de https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/VISIBLEWorldPride2021_0.pdf
  » https://outrightinternational.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/VISIBLEWorldPride2021_0.pdf
• Phoenix, N., & Ghul, R. (2016). Gender transition in the workplace: an occupational therapy perspective. Work, 55(1), 197-205. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-162386
  » https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-162386
• Schneider, J., Page, J., & van Nes, F. (2018). “Now I feel much better than in my previous life”: narratives of occupational transitions in young transgender adults. Journal of Occupational Science, 26(2), 219-232. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2018.1550726
  » https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/14427591.2018.1550726
• Shaw, L., & Rudman, D. L. (2009). Using occupational science to study occupational transitions in the realm of work: from micro to macro levels. Work, 32(4), 361-364. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2009-0848
  » https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-2009-0848
• Twinley, R. (2017). Woman-to-woman rape and sexual assault, and its impact upon the occupation of work: victim/survivors’ life roles of worker or student as disruptive and preservative. Work, 56(4), 505-517. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172529
  » https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-172529
• Wilcock, A., & Hockins, C. (2015). An occupational perspective of health West Deptford: Slack.

Edited by

Section editor

Prof. Dr. Késia Maria Maximiano de Melo

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Nov 2023
• Date of issue
  2023

History

• Received
  19 Jan 2023
• Reviewed
  31 Mar 2023
• Reviewed
  28 Apr 2023
• Reviewed
  19 Jan 2023
• Accepted
  11 July 2023