Water: A Useful Metaphor for Occupation

Abstract

While scholars have spent decades attempting to define occupation and identify key elements essential to the study of occupation, little research has focused on the fundamental properties of occupation alone. In addition, occupational science continues to struggle with interdisciplinary contribution to scholarship due to the often misunderstood and confusing terminology within our field of study. This article makes two arguments: 1) metaphors are useful tools by which occupational scientists can discuss and explain complex concepts related to occupation; and 2) water is a useful metaphor for more adequately understanding fundamental properties of occupation in and of itself. The fluidity of water, as well as the transactional nature of water and other natural elements, can serve as a way to talk about the complex and dynamic nature of occupation. The key properties that were deemed relevant to the fundamental properties of occupation include that water is: 1) essential to life; 2) reflective; 3) a conductor; 4) without fixed form; 5) naturally occurring, but finite, and that it 6) ebbs and flows. Water has the potential to be a powerful metaphor to foster discussions and exchange of ideas about occupation with other disciplines and professions, and to further relate occupation with broader social science constructs.