Opening Reflection Self-care has been marketed as lavender baths and $40 face masks. But for many South Asian women, it’s not aesthetic — it’s survival. Self-care looks like setting boundaries with toxic relatives, reclaiming time to rest without guilt, and quietly unlearning generations of silence and shame. It’s messy. It’s radical. And it’s necessary. The Reality of Self-Care in South Asian Homes In many South Asian households, the idea of putting yourself first is labeled selfish or shameful. Women are expected to be caregivers, emotional anchors, and problem-solvers — often at the cost of their own mental and physical health. So the version of self-care we’re sold online doesn’t always…