Gender Disparity in Occupational Therapy

Research and national statistics reveal gender disparities among many health care and helping professions, including in the occupational therapy field (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2015a; Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2018; Maxim & Rice, 2018). Key literature supports the need for a comprehensive, recruitment program targeting an underrepresented, male population in an effort to achieve gender balance in occupational therapy. Based on evidence, a male recruitment program, URePro (Undergraduate Recruitment Equality Program), was created and proposed to a group of stakeholders as part of a capstone project for Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in efforts to narrow the gender gap and advance the occupational therapy profession. Feedback and reflections from the stakeholders further supported the constructs of URePro. Future implications to increase gender diversity in occupational therapy are discussed. Stimulating motivations to mitigate contextual barriers relating to gender disparity and building upon the foundation of URePro can be a driving force leading to gender balance in the occupational therapy profession.