Theorising social transformation in occupational science: The American Civil Rights Movement and South African struggle against apartheid as 'Occupational Reconstructions'

Abstract

practice as currently defined and some are conceived as part of broad social transformations 14 .As occupational science expands its use of critical theories to analyse how inequality, injustice, and disempowerment are socially produced 15,16,17 , occupational therapists may desire increasingly to engage in politically informed practice.Toward such an end, Townsend calls for a critical literacy of occupation so that societies can address the effects of environmental changes on the world's aging population 18 .There is a need, further, for occupational science to study how people actually organise themselves to create social change.Transformation may occur at a personal, community or social level.It can make a difference where democracy, the rule of law, fundamental social services, job creation and/or sustainable enterprises and the sharing of power are lacking.