Health is a multidimensional concept that encompasses physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental aspects. It is an intrinsic value for individuals to attain balance and harmony in life. In modern times, health has become a commodity, which has led to its commercialization and monetization. The commodification of health has resulted in its objectification, exploitation, and exclusion of certain groups from accessing it.
Philosophy of wellness provides a critical perspective to critique this phenomenon while centering marginalized communities.
Philosophy of wellness recognizes that health is not just about the absence of disease but rather a holistic experience of being fully alive. It emphasizes the importance of personal agency, self-care, and self-determination in achieving optimal health outcomes. Philosophers like Michel Foucault have argued that health is socially constructed through power relations between medical professionals, state institutions, and individual patients. Therefore, the commodification of health reinforces these hierarchies and perpetuates existing inequalities in society.
The marketing of products and services related to health often fails to address the needs of underserved populations, such as people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community, or racial minorities. These groups face systemic barriers in access to care due to factors such as lack of insurance coverage, stigma, discrimination, and cultural beliefs. Commodification of health also promotes consumerism by prioritizing profits over human dignity and respect. It leads to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, creating unnecessary anxiety among patients who are made to believe they need expensive interventions for their 'wellbeing.'
The philosophy of wellness offers alternative approaches to health beyond biomedicine, including mindfulness meditation, herbal medicine, yoga, and acupuncture. These practices focus on prevention, promotion, and restoration of health rather than disease management alone. They incorporate spiritual, emotional, and environmental dimensions of wellness, which are often neglected in conventional healthcare settings. Centering marginalized communities means recognizing their unique experiences and perspectives regarding health and wellness.
Indigenous healers have developed traditional medicines and rituals based on their cultural knowledge and values. Their methods emphasize community-based care that supports social cohesion and sustainability.
Philosophy of wellness provides a critical lens to analyze the commodification of health while centering marginalized communities. By challenging the medical industrial complex, it advocates for holistic, community-centered models of healthcare that promote equity and justice. Its principles offer a way out of the commodification trap by empowering individuals to take control of their own health and wellbeing through self-care and collective action.
How can philosophy of wellness critique commodification of health while centering marginalized communities?
Health is an important aspect of life that has been commercialized, which has had significant consequences on individuals' wellbeing. The marketization of healthcare services and products have led to increased costs, reduced accessibility, and prioritizing profits over patient needs. This phenomenon disproportionately affects vulnerable groups who already face barriers to accessing adequate health care.