You know what, I really wanted to add ‘good sex’ or like a friend once said ‘mind blowing sex’ to the list but i didn’t…Why? I think I felt a bit ‘shy’ which is silly, right?

Thanks for the ‘old school’ inspiration. The best thing about ‘good sex’ is that it is free or should be

Nana

Thanks for summarising the book entitled “What’s the point of the Revolution if We Can’t Dance”. It favours those of us who are yet to read the it.

In addition to all that you enumarated as necessary for personal care, I think good sex also counts.

Thanks very much this lovely and helpfull piece.

Grace

Rose, I hear what you say about personal care being ‘expensive’ and something that only well to do women can afford and I also agree that it would be great for organisations to provide a subsidy for staff in order that they can afford personal care. However, I think when it comes to the subject of personal care there are several issues that come to play. I do not think personal care always needs to be expensive. It can be as simple as taking time out everyday to go for a walk, to chat to a friend or just to daydream.

The reality for a lot of activists is the guilt they feel when they ‘take a break’. Many activists do not take holidays or have anything resembling work/life balance. These are some of the issues addressed by ‘What’s the point of the Revolution if We Can’t Dance’. Personally, work/life balance is very important to me and is something I take time to prioritise

I feel compelled to respond to your response to Nana. I feel that comments like yours are the exact reason that ‘What’s the point of the Revolution if We Can’t Dance?’ was written. You write “You are very lucky…What about those who are not fortunate?” It is this very sentiment that makes feminists feel guilty every time we do something nice for ourselves, take a little break from making the world a better place, or even feel a little joy – because there will always be someone less fortunate who doesn’t have those luxuries. But do we all have to wait until all women have those luxuries to enjoy our own lives just a tiny bit without guilt? Especially when we spend the other 80 or 90% of the time working for other women to share in those same pleasures? Can’t we have enjoyable lives (as long as the pleasures aren’t exploiting anyone else) while fighting for all women to have those same choices and luxuries? I believe we can, and I applaud you, Nana, for taking care of yourself!

I very much appreciate and support the fact that every women need to make personal care as part and parcel of life. It is indeed very good and healthy for every woman because of the numerous gender roles we perform daily with its associated stress. But first and foremost, lets consider the issue of cost and affordability.

You are very lucky to have a relative who owns a personal care shop where you could probably undertake all the enumerated personal care activities by just paying a token fee.

What about those who are not that fortunate to have such relatives?

Although, personal care is good for every single woman, is also very expensive and only well-to-do women can afford.

Poverty is known to be feminized, hence majority of women in Africa live below the poverty line and could therefore not afford personal care.

For me, as a feminist, the most important issue is how personal care could be made affordable to attract almost every woman for the sake of our health and longivity.
Various organizations could also subsidize for staff to undertake personal care in order to maintain a healthy staff.

Rose Buabeng