Female and married: damaging to the therapy profession?
The first half of this paper describes the socialization process of women to their role in life. An examination is made of the literature and the lessons female children are taught about their place in the adult world in relationship to men. This "place" is typified by the hospital structure where the majority of therapists are employed. The second half of the paper looks into four aspects of professionalism--motivation, autonomy, commitment, and a sense of community--and examines each with the added dimension that membership in the therapy professions is predominantly female and married. Criteria for professionalism are defined on a continuum. Female occupational therapists fit much of this criteria, but conflicts of motherhood and career have a negative effect on their professional life and thus on their profession as well.
D000328:Adult; D001318:Authoritarianism; D002322:Career Mobility; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008393:Marriage; D009042:Motivation; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D009790:Occupations; D012380:Role; D012923:Social Class; D012951:Socialization; D013997:Time Factors; D014930:Women