Understanding and applying empowerment theory to promote occupational justice

Abstract

ABSTRACTOccupational justice is based on the ability to participate in meaningful occupations to achieve wellness and community integration. It is achieved through an intersection of micro, meso, and macro level factors. Empowerment is often discussed as an essential element of occupational justice, but the term lacks theoretical clarity and nuance in occupational science literature. Additionally, past research shows that empowerment and occupational justice are difficult to achieve in clinical settings because of elements of medical culture, including the sick role, reimbursement structures, hierarchy, and depersonalization. This article has two main aims: 1) to build on occupational justice theory by incorporating psychological and material theories of empowerment from community psychology; and 2) to provide specific examples of how empowerment and occupational justice might be promoted in the context of clinical settings in the United States. Conclusions are that occupational justice can be bolstered by interventions informed by empowerment theory, which emphasize critical awareness, perceived control, citizen participation, and reduction in material barriers to power. The author links occupational justice and empowerment theories with case examples from her own practice, and highlights values that overlap between occupational science and community psychology (such as individual and community wellness, social justice, and empirical grounding) to promote future collaboration and dialogue.