Occupational Therapy with Women and Children Survivors of Domestic Violence: Are We Fulfilling Our Activist Heritage? A Review of the Literature

Abstract

The aim of this literature review was to examine the work of occupational therapists with women and children survivors of domestic violence. The review notes a dearth of research and literature by occupational therapists in this field. The articles by occupational therapists working with survivors of domestic violence document a gap in the profession's knowledge and skills in identifying and working with victims of violence, emphasising the importance of and need for the education of occupational therapists and occupational therapy students in this area. The occupational therapy profession has a long history of activism. This article seeks to raise critical awareness of this heritage in relation to women and children survivors of domestic violence, and to explicate the theoretical underpinning for occupational therapists to work with survivors of domestic violence through a discussion of occupational apartheid and occupational justice. It explores occupational therapy's social vision and core principles in relation to survivors of domestic violence to demonstrate the crucial role that occupational therapists could play in this area, and calls for occupational therapists to be advocates for women and children and occupational justice. It is postulated that further research is needed to inspire and underpin practice.