For many, the modern “self-care” movement is synonymous with luxury candles and weekend retreats. But for Black women, new research suggests that the ability to look after one’s own health is less about personal willpower and more about the size of their paycheck.
A study published in Preventive Medicine Reports has found that socioeconomic status (SES) acts as a gatekeeper to well-being, influencing nearly half of the self-care activities Black women engage in. The findings suggest that for those on lower incomes, the basic acts of resting, laughing, and seeking medical help are often treated as “unaffordable luxuries” rather than essential rights.
The ‘self-care gap’
Led by Dr Paris Adkins-Jackson, researchers examined how factors such as income, education, and employment affect the daily lives of 223 Black women. The results were stark: women with higher socioeconomic status were significantly more likely to practice 49% of the self-care activities measured.
While it is perhaps unsurprising that financial security allows for holidays or “mini-breaks,” the study found the divide extended into the very fabric of emotional survival. Women in higher income brackets were far more likely to “strive for balance” between work and home, maintain regular medical check-ups, and—perhaps most tellingly—find ways to laugh.
By contrast, women facing financial hardship often found themselves trapped in a cycle of survival where emotional outlets, such as crying or sharing fears with a trusted friend, were significantly less common.
The pressure to be ‘strong’
The study highlights a deep-seated cultural expectation known as the “Superwoman Schema.” This is the pressure felt by many Black women to project an image of unshakeable strength, to suppress their own emotions, and to prioritise the needs of their community above their own.
While this resilience is often praised, the research suggests it comes at a heavy cost. When paired with low wages or high numbers of dependents, this “strength” leaves little room for personal restoration. The study notes that as the number of people a woman cares for increases, her own self-care often falls by the wayside.
A systemic failure
The conclusions offer a vital insight for Black women: the struggle to “pour from an empty cup” is often not a personal failing, but a systemic one.
Researchers argue that public health initiatives must move beyond simply telling women to “reduce stress.” Without addressing the underlying barriers—such as the need for better pay, job security, and childcare—the advice to practice self-care remains out of reach for those who need it most.
For the modern Black woman, the study serves as a reminder that wellness is not just a lifestyle choice; it is a political and economic issue. To improve health outcomes, the experts suggest, we must first close the gap between the “Superwoman” myth and the reality of economic survival.
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7452072/