Blog Writing
Self-Care: What You Didn’t Know
All of a sudden it seems that when describing a healthy lifestyle, everyone mentions “self-care;” but what is the origin of that phrase, and is it really just another millennial/gen Z trend or is there more to it? Below, I’ll explore this “self-care” fad, and what it means for you.
From beauty brands to doctor dens to even The Oval Office, almost instantly everyone is talking “self-care.” Curiously, although the trend feels modern, the term was actually coined back in the 1950s. According to Shine, as a contrast to patients in long-term care facilities, self-care was “how patients…could cultivate a sense of self-worth through acts of care and preservation.” This was significant, as it highlighted a sense of ownership over an individual’s health, especially in a situation where they were dependent upon others.
Naturally, after the term made its way through academic circles, this ability for self-empowerment became political. As noted by Teen Vogue quoting Dr. Maryam K. Aziz, the Black Panther Party popularized self-care for Black activists and Black communities, seeing this act "toward caring for themselves as a necessary, everyday revolutionary practice.”
It’s interesting that in this resurgence of The Civil Rights Movement, there’s also a revitalization of self-care. At first, I didn’t see self-care as a political statement, but considering that in this capitalistic society every dollar is a “vote,” of course the tools you choose for your practice is taking a stance.
Corporations have no doubt seen the profit in self-care. According to MarketWatch, the average American spends over 20% of their disposable income on self-care, and those under 25 spend over 30%. This likely explains the wellness targeting towards the younger generation. Whether it’s an Instagram ad, a post to TikTok, or an ad that somehow follows you all around the internet, large companies with vast advertising budgets definitely try to get in on this $400 billion industry.
Reconsidering these origins of self-care, why not have where you spend your dollar/vote reinforce the Black Panther Party’s vision of self-care as a revolutionary practice? To help you get stared, below are a few lists of Black-owned businesses to help you take a stance, while “cultivat[ing] a sense of self-worth through acts of care and preservation,”
More coming soon!