Environmental impacts on the occupations of non-binary individuals

Karen McCarthy, Meghan Ballog, Katie Lee, Maria Mayela Carranza

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Understanding the link between occupations, gender identity, and the environment is fundamental to the comprehension of the occupational participation of non-binary individuals. Occupations are used to express an individual’s personal and social identity and serve as a modality for identity “growth and reconstruction” (Laliberte-Rudman, 2002). Beagan et al. (2012) reveal that transgender individuals use occupations to shape and project their identity; the inability to engage in occupations that align with an individual’s identity (particularly gender identity) resulted in distress, a sense of emptiness, and occupational deprivation. Current research addresses the transgender population but fails to distinguish between the binary and non-binary experience. This study focuses on non-binary individuals and acknowledges them as unique individuals while simultaneously addressing the gap in the literature of occupational science.

A case study design was selected with a two-step semi-structured interview process where the initial interview focused on environments that supported or hindered occupations, while the second interview was guided by photo-elicitation (Clark-Ibanez, 2004).

Data from four participants over eight interviews resulted in three themes: gated world, navigating binary spaces, and undoing gender. This study’s findings illuminate that non-binary individuals participate in occupations as a result of the transactions between shaping and expressing their identities, analyzing and reacting to binary environments, and undoing gender.

This study highlights the non-binary experience of navigating gender expression, occupational performance, and adapting occupations in response to the dominant cisgender binary culture. Implications for occupational science include adding to the literature on the transactional nature of occupation. This study adds to the knowledge of how occupations are gendered through "doing gender" and highlights the need for non-binary persons, therefore, to engage in an active process to remove gender from occupations by "undoing gender". As one of the few studies in occupational science regarding the non-binary population, this research could be used as underlying and foundational information to help clinicians build rapport with clients, help facilitate occupation participation, and consider environmental barriers that previously were unknown.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - 2021
EventAnnual Research Conference of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA - Online
Duration: Sep 24 2021Sep 25 2021

Conference

ConferenceAnnual Research Conference of the Society for the Study of Occupation: USA
Abbreviated titleSSO:USA
Period9/24/219/25/21

Keywords

  • non-binary
  • transgender
  • environment

Disciplines

  • Occupational Therapy

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