The 7 Principles of Intersectional Wellness
We are moving into an era of prioritizing wellness; not just for the elite, but for the collective. In order to expand the possibilities of healing for the folx who are most impacted by oppression, we must begin to view wellness from an intersectional lens.
Intersectional wellness views wellness not as a luxury- but as a human right, because when we're well, so are our communities. It is a framework for living, being, and dreaming outside of the dehumanizing system of grind culture - a web of systemic oppression that negatively impacts the spiritual, mental, and physical wellness of people of color, female-identified, queer, and disabled folks. Intersectional wellness uplifts that oppressed groups should have greater access to health and wellness services to service their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being in order to heal from systemic oppression. It reimagines justice as a pathway toward promoting rest, reflection, healing, and joy for vibrant and diverse communities.
The 7 Principles of Intersectional Wellness
Wellness is a Human Right. The people who have experienced the most structural violence have affordable and easy access to wellness programs for the body, mind, and spirit.
Representation Matters. Marginalized voices are brought to the front within the wellness field in honor of our ancestors who have made large contributions to contemporary wellness practices.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All. Wellness programs honor both the collective and individual experience and leads to personal and systemic healing.
A More Liberated Existence. Workplace wellness programs should support a just transition out of the system of grind culture and into liberatory ways of working and being.
Reparations and Land Back. Centers economic well-being through the promotion of reparations to African and indigenous communities impacted by systematic disenfranchisement.
Non-Western Healing Methodologies are Honored. Healing and wellness programs are inclusive of but not exclusive to traditional Western medicine. Wellness programs can honor the culture of the people they are serving and reclaim ancestral wisdom.
Targeted Universalism. All marginalized identities to the front. When we focus on creating programming that uplifts our most vulnerable populations, we create a container for a better quality of life for the entire collective.
-Heather Archer
Heather Archer is an author, workplace wellness coach, and sound healer who helps others achieve liberation through reimagining their relationship with work and productivity. Learn more about her online workshops, book, curriculum materials, speaking engagements, and sound healing sessions at www.thrivingwithheather.com.