Occupational Consciousness

Area of Science:

• Occupational science
• Sociology
• Post-colonial studies

Background:

• Introduces occupational consciousness, an awareness of how daily actions sustain dominant societal power dynamics.
• Highlights its emergence in post-apartheid South Africa, reflecting ongoing negotiations of colonial and post-colonial power structures.
• Frames consciousness through post-colonial thinkers (Biko, Fanon) and liberation philosophy to address unequal intersubjective relations in human occupation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advance theorizing in occupational science by introducing and defining occupational consciousness.
• To explore the links between occupational consciousness and related concepts like occupational possibilities, choice, apartheid, and collective occupation.
• To examine the sociological use of 'consciousness' and position occupational consciousness as a critical framework.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and theoretical advancement within occupational science.
• Drawing on post-colonial theory and liberation philosophy.
• Comparative exploration of related constructs and sociological definitions of consciousness.

Main Results:

• Defines occupational consciousness as an awareness of hegemony embedded in everyday occupations.
• Establishes connections between occupational consciousness and other occupational concepts.
• Explores the sociological context of the term 'consciousness'.

Conclusions:

• Occupational consciousness is proposed as a critical concept for understanding how everyday actions can challenge oppressive social structures.
• It offers a framework for potentially liberating responses to systemic inequalities.
• The paper advocates for its role in advancing occupational science and inter/transdisciplinary critical conceptualizations of human occupation.