Alliances between social occupational therapy and critical occupational science: Propositions to mobilize social justice

Abstract

Committed to the necessity of international dialogues in occupational therapy and occupational science, we have developed a proposal for alliance between social occupational therapy and critical occupational science based on a series of theoretical dialogues between Brazilian and Canadian researchers. Through these dialogues, we have aimed to understand and propose contributions that articulate the shared intent of social transformation enhancing social justice of these disciplines. While acknowledging points of difference, we propose an alliance based on points of convergence, including emergence from concerns related to justice and equity; development coming from the ‘margins’; mobilization of critical social theory to orient knowledge production and question power relations within and outside the discipline and the profession; and an intent to work towards social justice, especially with marginalized groups. Our key arguments are informed by theoretical concepts from three authors: Judith Butler’s conceptualizations of vulnerability, precarity, and alliance; Nancy Fraser’s propositions regarding social justice; and Paulo Freire’s concept of dialogue. Through dialogue that recognizes and respects different knowledges and practices, an alliance is produced toward social justice, one that aims to realize more complex theoretical and practical resources for critical thinking about social reality. In turn, possibilities for apprehending how different oppressions impact and influence the possibilities of living can be expanded, informing approaches to building inhabitable worlds and proposing practices of freedom with persons and communities facing oppression.