Document Type (Journals)
Original Research
Abstract
The historical dominance of women working in occupational therapy, coupled with the underrepresentation of males in the field globally, creates a need to investigate the experiences of male students in occupational therapy programs. In the context of the Philippines, where women make up 74.72% of the occupational therapy workforce, this study aims to address the following scaffolding problem by exploring the experiences and motivations of male students in Philippine occupational therapy programs. This study seeks to shed light on the factors influencing their educational journey and contribute to a better understanding of gender dynamics within the field. A qualitative design was used. Nine male occupational therapy students from various universities across the Philippines completed a survey questionnaire developed by the authors and attended a focus group discussion. Qualitative data was recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis. Upon analysis, five themes emerged: (1) Means and Not the End, (2) Rapport and Communication, (3) Society and Stereotyping, (4) Introspection of Male Students, and (5) Furtherance of Gender Inclusivity. The findings suggest that there are roles and expectations specific to male occupational therapy students within the Philippines, which may differ to some extent from those of their female counterparts. The participants experienced particular challenges and opportunities due to their gender. These results may be used to understand the existing gender disparity still present in different occupational therapy workforces.
Biography
Tiaura U. Macabagdal, OTS is a third year BS Occupational Therapy student at University of Batangas in Batangas City, Philippines.
Lila Amaryllis Caniete, OTS is a third year BS Occupational Therapy student at University of Batangas in Batangas City, Philippines.
Eryn Jahn Fernandez, OTS is a third year BS Occupational Therapy student at University of Batangas in Batangas City, Philippines.
Airica Henncell C. Roldan, OTS is a third year BS Occupational Therapy student at University of Batangas in Batangas City, Philippines.
Rod Charlie Delos Reyes, MSOT, OTRP is a licensed occupational therapist and currently an instructor at University of Batangas in Batangas City, Philippines.
Mark Andre Blanco, MSOT, OTRP was a graduating MS Occupational Therapy student at University of Santo Tomas at the time of this study.
Declaration of Interest
The authors report no declarations of interest.
Recommended Citation
Macabagdal, T. U., Caniete, L. C., Fernandez, E., Roldan, A. C., Delos Reyes, R., & Blanco, M. (2023). Lived Experiences of Filipino Male Occupational Therapy Students. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 7 (4). https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2023.070410
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