Gendering of day center occupations as perceived by people with psychiatric disabilities in Sweden

Abstract

Background: The aim was to explore the experiences and views of people attending day centers for people with psychiatric disabilities concerning the occurrence and nature of gendering of the occupations performed there.

Methods: Twenty-five day center attendees were interviewed regarding occupational choices at the day centers, whether they would describe day center occupations as gendered, and if so what the consequences were of the gendering of occupations. The transcribed texts were analyzed by thematic analysis.

Results: Three main themes were identified: Thinking and doing gender; Understandings of gendering of day center occupations; and Consequences of gendered occupation. The participants were more open-minded in their reasoning than in what they were doing. They understood gendering to be a result of traditions, role models from childhood, ideas about typically male and female innate capacities, lack of knowledge and low self-confidence. Doing seemed to reproduce gender, but being in a group of the same sex could shape unity and a relaxed atmosphere.

Conclusions: The findings could be understood as a set of gender frames, which might prevent either of the sexes from developing their full potentials and transgress into e.g. the employment market. Gendering should be highlighted and debated in psychosocial rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• Psychiatry
• mental illness
• meaningfulness
• doing gender
• gender frames

Disclosure statement

The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.