- The radical self-care movement, which rejects traditional self-care, is popular on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
- According to radical self-care proponents, traditional self-care is driven by consumerism and individualism.
- Audre Lorde wrote in 1988 about radical self-care that goes hand-in-hand with community care.
in TikTok videos Asiya Muhsin, a women’s wellness coach and consultant for Black women, posted in September that rest is a form of fundamental self-care. “Getting rest is absolutely necessary to achieve and maintain your health and wellness goals,” she added. Her video is one of hundreds that describe a “radical” form of self-care that embraces the idea of taking the space you need to become a whole person.
“In this concept, radical self-care is a rejection of hustle culture; it holds that our value as human beings is inherently tied to work, and that we are instead independent of our participation in capitalism.” We reject the idea that there is any value in who we are,” said Jasmine Hill, assistant professor of public policy and sociology at UCLA.
According to Hill, the traditional self-care movement, which exploded in the early 2010s, was fueled by wellness industry efforts to force people to buy wellness products like massage subscriptions and bath salts, and was inherently capitalistic. The company is said to have contributed to the expansion of production.
“While these things can be very relaxing, they are not available to many people from different working-class backgrounds, and you cannot find true rest in a bubble bath itself,” she says, adding, “I We are human beings,” he added. , we are not a personal brand, so we have needs related to community, food, water, and rest. ”
Healing another kind of trauma
What exactly does radical self-care look like? Rest is the biggest factor, but it also includes taking breaks, setting boundaries around your time, and protesting and organizing against draining systems. It can also mean becoming a worker, quitting work, and ultimately recognizing the injustice of the situation and opposing it individually or collectively. “Radical self-care may seem like a behavior that doesn’t need to be paid for or that only the elite have access to, but it actually counteracts the notion that we as humans are easily bored,” says Hill. said.
To an outsider, these concepts may sound simple or standard. But for Black women in America, who have historically been expected to work, serve others, and support their families and communities, taking time off, quitting their jobs, and cutting ties with loved ones is difficult. , a harmful element in life, and an extreme act.
“Black women, in particular, are required to constantly work for our families, our workplaces, and our communities because of our position in racial and gender hierarchies,” Hill said. “Radical self-care for Black women rejects the idea that we’re supposed to be super women who don’t need to rest, and instead embraces joy, rest, joy, silliness, and usually how we do things.” It’s about actively advocating for all these things that don’t matter, and that’s what black women are supposed to be.”
Many factors point to the different stressors that Black people, and especially Black women, face on a daily basis. From demographics that are underpaid, marginalized in medical settings, and overlooked for business opportunities, to dealing with daily microaggressions at work and online, Black women face daily trauma just by existing. may be produced. And because racism cannot be bought or coddled, resistance through active choices to care for oneself and one’s community is a form of self-care that actually enriches the lives of Black women. It becomes.
historical roots
“To me, radical self-care means getting back to yourself and prioritizing your health over the health of others. Because you can’t value people,” says psychotherapist and author Oludara Adillo. “Self-Care for Black Women: 150 Ways to Radically Accept and Prioritize Your Mind, Body, and Soul.”. ” Her books aim to help black women in particular revitalize their outlook on life, improve their mental health, relieve stress, and assert themselves, emulating the life she has chosen for herself. Masu.
“Radical self-care is different than what people know as self-care because it’s a little bit deeper. It’s about really connecting you with yourself and not just treating yourself or rewarding yourself.” It’s about being able to really learn about yourself and find your voice in this chaotic world.”
The radical self-care movement has been trending across social media platforms in recent years, but its origins date back to the 1980s. In her 1988 collection of essays, A Burst of Light, Audre Lorde wrote, “Taking care of yourself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and it is an act of political warfare.” Her version of self-care is very different from today’s solitary, individualistic versions of self-care and is consistent with community care.
Author Kathleen Newman-Breman says, “Reclaiming Audre Lorde’s fundamental self-care“Community care is about using our power and bandwidth to support and provide for our communities when the systems we exist in are not working. We need to ask ourselves what we can do politically, socially and interpersonally to offset the harm that is already inflicting on our communities.”
While the resurgence of the movement can be attributed to many factors, Adillo said it is a combination of the pandemic and recent tragedies in the Black community, including the killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. We believe there are also social media platforms. While many may have distanced themselves from the BLM movement online, Adillo said Black people had to look within themselves and find a way to continue that level of resistance. Radical self-care is one of them. This also requires slowing down and not feeling guilty about being constantly unproductive.
Mr Hill said: “It’s not about overcoming burnout and going back to work and doing the same thing all over again. It’s about imagining what things would be like if we recognized collective problems in our communities and addressed them.”Organizing Together By really transforming the system. ”
