***Trigger Warning: Discussion of Suicidal Ideation, Gender-Based Violence and Harassment, and explicit language***
Continuing our exploration of the evolution of the Contemporary Arts and Crafts Movement we are joined today by Matthew Boudreaux the creator of Mx. Domestic where we explore navigating experiences of Gender-Based Occupational Deprivation and how creative expression and community building can be a way to engage in healing towards occupational wellbeing, participation, inclusion, empowerment, liberation, and ultimately systemic change.
Mx. Domestic is a multitalented non-binary, queer, and neurodivergent sewist who is a leader in increasing diversity in representation and inclusion of communities that tend to be underserved by the conventional crafting communities that tend to prioritize and center the needs and experiences of a narrow demographic of well resourced, heterosexual, cis-gendered, and often Christian white females. While Matthew wanted to learn how to sew from his Mother as a young child, this ambition was not supported because of Matthew's perceived gender identity and restrictive Western gender role expectations. Luckily Matthew did not let his mother's discouragement hold him back. Matthew credits crafting and fiber arts and his soul pull toward using fiber arts as a symbolic occupation to engage in honoring the development of his daughter. Matthew overcoming his own experience of occupational deprivation ultimately helped to build an inclusive community that has fundamentally changed the culture of how crafting is now being marketed nationally and he has partnered with others to create safe spaces for a wider diversity of communities to gain the healing benefits of crafting and creative expression. Please consider supporting Mx. Domestic's ongoing work and I hope you enjoy this meaty conversation!
https://mxdomestic.com/
What is Occupational Deprivation:
“A reduction in the amount and diversity of opportunities for occupational performance and occupational engagement for an extended period of time. It impacts negatively on health and well-being and may have serious consequences if prolonged. It is generally seen as caused by factors outside the control of the individual such as social structures or stigma, religious practices, political differences, poverty, or geography. There is debate as to whether factors such as illness and injury can cause occupational deprivation given that they are internal to the individual. Nonetheless, they are beyond the control of the individual and can have similar consequences, namely, reduced opportunities for diverse occupational performance and occupational engagement”
(Molineux, 2017)
Molineux, M. (2017). A dictionary of occupational science and occupational therapy (Oxford Quick Reference). OUP Oxford.
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