In today’s fast-paced world, self-care has become a buzzword, often linked to bubble baths, face masks, and treating yourself to a fancy latte. But for many of us, especially those who exist at the margins—people of colour, women, LGBTQ+ individuals—self-care is not just a luxury; it’s a lifeline. It’s a radical act of resistance. And no one understood this better than the late bell hooks.
bell hooks, a Black feminist scholar and cultural critic, wrote extensively about the importance of self-care, particularly for those living under the weight of oppression. For her, it was not a matter of indulging in consumerist escapism but of reclaiming the space to heal, grow, and resist.
Self-Care as political resistance
At its core, bell hooks saw self-care as an act of defiance against systems of domination. Whether it’s racism, sexism, homophobia, or capitalism, these systems are designed to wear us down, to drain our energy, and make us feel powerless. When we care for ourselves—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—we resist being consumed by these forces.
In "Sisters of the Yam: Black Women and Self-Recovery," hooks spoke about the unique burdens faced by Black women, who often bear the brunt of multiple forms of discrimination. She understood that for Black women, practising self-care was essential for survival. It was a way to reclaim their wholeness in a society that continuously devalues them.
This idea extends beyond Black women to anyone living on the margins. To resist oppression, we need to be whole. We need the energy to fight, and that comes from taking care of ourselves. Self-care, in this sense, is about survival and empowerment.
Nurturing the spirit
For bell hooks, self-care wasn’t just about managing the physical body—it was about nurturing the spirit. She often spoke about the importance of love, connection, and spirituality in resisting oppressive structures. Self-care involves cultivating inner peace and joy, not just through alone time but through meaningful relationships and community.
In a world that encourages disconnection and burnout, hooks reminded us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. True self-care comes from finding our people—those who see and support us—and allowing ourselves to be nurtured by those relationships. As she wrote, “rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”
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