What can activists do when traditional advocacy efforts are often deemed “subversive” or “undermining national interests”? Globally, we see space for civil society decreasing and government repression increasing—from Brazil to Egypt to India. At the International Women’s Health Coalition, we support feminist organizations advocating for the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls around the world. Among our partners, we’re seeing a rise in alternative approaches in response to these troubling global trends, and among them: collective self-care.
As social justice champions, collectivizing our struggles, including our self-care, exponentially ensures our survival and sustains our movements. This is especially crucial because the potential to feel despair, stress, anger, burnout, trauma and isolation increases when working in oppressive contexts.
In settings where human rights and social justice activists are subjected to intense repression, structural inequalities and threats, surviving is a major achievement.
