Occupational therapy: the role of ideology in the development of a profession for women.

This paper uses contemporary accounts, newspaper articles, and professional literature to describe the origin and development of the profession of occupational therapy. Ideas about the organization of work, women's characteristics, and the historical context of World War I are included. Occupational therapy is discussed from the perspective of values that contributed to the successful establishment and maintenance of a recognized structure in the work force for women performing occupational therapy services.