When people think of self-care today, images of matcha lattes, gym bro workouts and brand-name face masks may come to mind. This modern, consumer-driven idea of self-care, however, differs greatly from its original purpose, which took root during the civil rights movement of the 1950s.
On Tuesday, the Otter Cross Cultural Center (OC3) hosted a self-care-centered event where about a dozen students explored the history of self-care, its importance in activism and sustainable practices beyond consumerism.
“I looked up self-care on Google and this is a lot of what pops up–name-brand products, a lot of skincare, much of it tied to consumerism,” said Nurayah Alvarado, the Sustainability and Wellness Student Coordinator for the OC3.
Alvarado also pointed out social media often equates self-care with femininity and consumerism, reinforcing gendered marketing tactics that commodify well-being. They went on to showcase a lot of popular posts on Instagram under the hashtag “self-care.” Many of the photos had Apple headphones, matcha lattes and pilates classes as the main focus.
The discussion touched on how self-care, in its current mainstream form, is often inaccessible to those who cannot afford expensive wellness products.
The event delved into self-care’s historical roots, focusing on the Black Panther Party. The Party, which was founded in 1966 in Oakland, often provided free food and hosted medical clinics that aimed to empower Black communities against systemic oppression. Leaders like Ericka Huggins and Angela Davis were brought up, who would “use meditation and yoga to sustain their fight for rights even when incarcerated in prison,” said Alvarado.
Students engaged in discussions about self-care’s role in their own lives, referencing influential figures like Audre Lorde and Robin Wall Kimmerer, who emphasize self-care as a communal and environmental act.
“The personal is also political,” one participant noted, connecting self-care to intersectionality – the idea that individual experiences differ based on intersecting identities.
Alvarado challenged attendees to consider, “Radical self-care cannot come from a place of consumerism.” They cited examples like microbeads in skin-care products, which pollute waterways, as evidence that many commercial self-care products harm the environment.
“Self-care was originally practiced by activists and the working class who used it as a survival tool,” Alvardo added. “Turning self-care into a for-profit industry that exploits the working class is predatory and will not fulfill your needs.” Instead, they emphasized that true self-care is rooted in community.
The event concluded with the idea that “self-care is community care.” By supporting those around us, we care for ourselves and uphold the legacy of self-care as a political act – one that sustains individuals and movements alike. The discussion encouraged students to rethink self-care not as a luxury, but as a necessary and collective practice that fosters resilience, activism and well-being.