6th free Critical Physiotherapy Course - next week
Identity Theories: Structure and Agency in Physiotherapy Practice with Hazel Horobin
Zoom link for the meeting: https://aut.zoom.us/j/498232698
In this presentation, I will use the theories by Jenkins (2014) and Foucault (1988) to explore how an individual’s identity is socially constructed and I outline how Gauntlett understands the way in which identities are expressed. Through an appreciation of the difficulties of capturing the fleeting identities these views generate, an alternative term is proposed - ‘identifications’ which represents these more contemporary considerations of ‘self’ more rigorously (Bauman, 2013). I then go on to explore the impact of social context on identifications and view the co-construction of identifications, through ‘habitus’ a concept proposed by Bourdieu (1977) - a theorist whose work has already been encountered with Gail Teachman, and #3 of the course.
I progress to delving a little deeper into the impact of cultural change on expressions of self, incorporating ideas around globalisation and modernity expressed by Holland (2001). I will use these combined ideas to generate a post-modern view of professional identity which accepts its flexibility as well as its susceptibility to pressures from outside the profession. I use examples from my own life as well as readings to articulate these theories, and end with a discussion on what this means to physiotherapy practice. Here I suggest that relativism with regards to practices should be our professional aim, with physiotherapists exhibiting a radical openness to differences in practice from different locations.
References:
Bauman, Z. (2013). Liquid modernity: John Wiley & Sons.
Bourdieu, P. (1977). Outline of a Theory of Practice (Vol. 16): Cambridge university press.
Foucault, M. (1988). Technologies of the self: A seminar with Michel Foucault: Univ of Massachusetts Press.
Holland, D. C. (2001). Identity and agency in cultural worlds: Harvard University Press.
Jenkins, R. (2014). Social identity: Routledge.
Pre-thinking:
Prior to the discussion you might want to think about your identifications; how you view the physiotherapy practice in different country locations and what you think of the general physiotherapeutic approach to practices where you are.
This pre-reading might be useful:
Hammond, R., Cross, V. and Moore, A., 2016. The construction of professional identity by physiotherapists: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy, 102(1), pp.71-77.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031940615037700