How Activists Organize Self Care and Collective Care?
From TCU Wiki
- Activists feel guilty for taking a break and selfish. They also feel this pressure from the network.
- Our notion of what is self-care makes us think its a certain group of things: yoga, meditation, shopping, etc This is enforced by social media, which has made it a multi-million industry.
- Many of us now think we can't afford it. However, we need to unpack what it means to self-care. Its individual prefernces and related to pleasure. In this context, women and LGTBQ groups have been denied pleasure. So what does this mean for us?
- Self-care can be just be hanging out with friends, spending time alone, really whatever brings you pleasure.
- Most of us have a hard time practicing self-care. It's not relatable to everyone, because everyone comes from different cultural contexts. Also, as activists don't know how to ask for help.
- Friend means different things to different people. When I need help in physical space is very difficult.
- Now it has become "activities" because required be some funders.
- We all use different words and concepts, and thats fine. What we are talking about is what we are doing for our physical and mental health.
- Some teams give people mental health days if they need it. Others, encourage social get togethers on a weekly basis.
- In some places Global South, self-care is seen as something that the elite does. Also, some activists say they don't have time because there is so much suffering.
- Drawing boundaries is the most important step when it comes to self-care. It takes a lot to say no or detach yourself from the work or committee, especially when you're a young activist and there is so much power play in the community.