But Why, Though? From Protest to Product: The Radical History and Corporate Takeover of Self-Care

Explore the untold story of self-care—from its roots in Black Panther clinics and feminist health collectives to its current form as a trillion-dollar industry marketed through bath bombs and wellness apps. This episode unpacks how self-care evolved from a political survival tool into a consumer mandate, spotlighting the roles of neoliberalism, Instagram influencers, and corporate branding. We break down who benefits, who’s left out, and what reclaiming self-care really means in the 21st century.    

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Works Cited

 Badr, Samar. Selling Self-Care: Wellness and the Marketization of Well-Being in Neoliberal America. University of California Press, 2022. Delaney, Brigid. “Self-care has become an Industrial Complex – It’s Time to ‘Take the Self out of Self-care.’” The Guardian, 2 Nov. 2019, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/03/self-care-has-become-an-industrial-complex-its-time-to-take-the-self-out-of-self-care. Harris, Aisha. “The Radical History of Self-Care.” Slate, 2017, https://slate.com/human-interest/2017/07/a-history-of-self-care-from-its-radical-roots-to-its-yuppie-driven-middle-age.html. Lorde, Audre. A Burst of Light: Essays. Firebrand Books, 1988. Petrzela, Natalia Mehlman. Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession. University of Chicago Press, 2023. Reagan, Gillian. “Inside Ulta Beauty’s Strategy to Sell Self-Care to the Masses.” Insider, 6 Mar. 2024, https://www.businessinsider.com/ulta-beauty-wellness-self-care-strategy-2024-3. Semuels, Alana. “How Self-Care Became the New Skin Care.” Time Magazine, 5 May 2022, https://time.com/6173295/self-care-beauty-wellness/. Volpe, Allie. “The Self-Care Industry Is Thriving. But Is It Helping Us?” Vox, 16 Dec. 2022, https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2022/12/16/self-care-industry-growth-wellness-mental-health. Yoon, Eunice. “Mental Health App Boom: Headspace, Calm, and the Rise of Mindfulness Tech.” CNBC, 18 Dec. 2020, https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/18/headspace-calm-apps-mental-health-growth.html. U.S. Census Bureau. Service Annual Survey: Health Care and Social Assistance Services. 2023, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sas.html.