The state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal encompassing physical, mental, and social well-being.
Formed from 'well' (in good health) + '-ness' (state, condition). Though the components are old, 'wellness' as a holistic health concept emerged prominently in the 1950s-60s.
The modern wellness industry, worth hundreds of billions globally, transformed an old English word construction into a lifestyle philosophy that encompasses everything from yoga retreats to corporate wellness programs!
1970s wellness movement initially marketed to women as body/mind responsibility, gendering self-care as feminine obligation. Language frames wellness as individualized (often feminized) rather than structural.
Use 'wellness' for all genders; emphasize collective wellbeing infrastructure rather than individualizing wellness as personal female responsibility.
["wellbeing","health"]
Women clinicians and holistic medicine pioneers built modern wellness frameworks; their contributions often attributed to male popularizers or corporate-branded programs.
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