Study of occupational therapy professional practices with children from a gender perspective

Abstract

Introduction: This article studies the gender perspective in professional practices and training of occupational therapists working with children from 6 to 13 years old in the cities of Paraná and Santa Fe. Objectives: to describe the ludic, verbal and literary resources, selection criteria and ways of instrumentation used by OTs in their practices with children, from a gender perspective; to investigate if occupational therapy professional practices promote non-sexist praxis; to identify if occupational therapists working with children have training related to gender issues. Methodology: qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study. For the construction of the data, the following instruments were used: virtual questionnaire, observation and interviews. Six professionals participated and the data analysis was thematic. Results: When talking about gender perspective, most of the participating group expressed that it is external to their practices. It is observed that there is a naturalised cisexism or binarism, in practice and in training, crystallised in the perception that the gender issue is a topic that is alien to occupational therapy care spaces, noticeable in binary actions and verbal expressions. Moreover, some gender stereotypes are sometimes perceived in the activities and resources implemented. Conclusions: Reviewing the frames of reference from which practices are carried out and including a gender perspective will allow us to develop equal approaches that do not reproduce binary and sexist views, and thus aim to promote greater well-being , guaranteeing the rights of individuals and communities, towards a more egalitarian society.