Where are all the male occupational therapists?

Dave Jereb, Shane McSweeney and Ted Brown

It is in our genetic makeup as occupational therapists to appreciate that diversity is everywhere. It is within the populations we live in and communities we work with. However, when we stop and think about diversity, does the occupational therapy workforce reflect our society? Is there adequate representation of the diverse cultures, life experiences, neurodiversity, sexuality and gender of our population?

In a perfect world our profession would be more representative of our population. Could better representation (in the occupational therapy discipline) influence improved outcomes and opportunities for our clients and families? One element currently lacking (acknowledging there are many other underrepresented groups in occupational therapy) is the small number of men. Why do we have a history of low male participation in the occupational therapy workforce; what are the solutions to recruiting more men into the profession, and what could be the benefits if successful?

Over the years we have seen a steady growth of the number of occupational therapists working in Australia, the profession now sits as one of the fastest growing in allied health. In 2012 there were 14,255 individuals, compared to March 2023, 29,473 individuals. Of interest is the male participation respectively of 1,165 (8.2%) to 3,060 (10.4%) (Occupational Therapy Board, 2023). A small increase, but if this was the growth of your pay over the last decade you would find it a rather disappointing result. Contrast these numbers to the 2021 Australian Census data, which reveals that males constitute 49.3% of the population (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022).

Furthermore, when considering the consumer population in paediatrics for example, the discrepancy becomes even more pronounced. In an average recent week at one of the author’s private paediatric clinics, 98 of 130 children receiving occupational therapy identified as male, accounting for approximately 75% of the client population.

So where are all the men? Limited research studies are available to answer this question, but we can acknowledge that a gender gap exists in the occupational therapy profession globally. This could be attributed to societal norms, stereotypes, career progression opportunities, working conditions, perceived remuneration levels, and limited awareness of the profession among males, along with traditional gender roles and biases.

If we agree that supporting our clients and their families to feel comfortable with their therapist is important, then having a variety of options to support their care can only be beneficial to outcomes. Acknowledging that gender diversity (including people of non-binary genders) plays an important role in this process can happen by ensuring clients and their families have the choice (if desired) to work with therapists who share their gender identity. This choice allows for personalised and culturally responsive care, ideally leading to improved rapport, trust, participation and therapy outcomes. Additionally, a diverse occupational therapy workforce challenges traditional stereotypes and creates a more inclusive and representative healthcare environment.

Given the significant benefits diversity can bring to clients, it is crucial to explore strategies for attracting, retaining, and supporting male occupational therapists. By fostering a more gender-balanced and inclusive profession, we can enhance the quality of care and better meet the diverse needs of our clients, their families and the communities where they live. Diversity can only strengthen our incredible profession, but to make real change a multifaceted approach must be developed. As male occupational therapists reflecting on our journeys and how we got here, what could be changed? We have all heard “you can’t be what you can’t see”. We could start by educating the educators and making diversity in OT visible via school counsellors, throughout secondary schools and universities.

Once they have graduated and are practising, we can support male occupational therapists through regular networking events that provide opportunities for connection, conversation and support. The National Men in OT SIG has evolved as a place to create these connections and conversations.

Occupational therapy is a fulfilling and meaningful ‘occupation’ for those of us who have chosen this career path. It is remarkable to the authors that this profession has not attracted male therapists in greater numbers. The gender gap (that includes all gender identities) in occupational therapy is a pressing concern that warrants our collective attention. In order to thrive, professions should be representative of the communities they live and work in. Despite the growth of the profession, the underrepresentation of male therapists persists. Through inclusive and targeted promotional materials, educational outreach, and support systems, we are hopeful we will attract and support more male occupational therapists. It is a collective professional responsibility to help foster positive change and diversity within our profession, including gender diversity, fortifying our field and improving the quality of care for all.

The authors are experienced occupational therapists with a combined clinical, educational and research experience of over 70 years across a variety of clinical and educational settings. They have a strong commitment to advancing the profession and promoting inclusivity and diversity for all. As founding members of the OTA National Men in Occupational Therapy Special Interest Group, the authors invite those interested to attend a meeting. Scan the QR code below (left) for more details.