Diversity Is the New Mission in Wellness
Photo Credit: Aas the wellness industry matures, there are attempts to make it more gender-neutral and socioeconomically and racially diverse. Unsplash / @jibarofoto
Skift Take
The world of wellness is filled with overpriced products and services that unfortunately tend to exclude most people, whether racially or socioeconomically. We welcome more companies offering high-quality products that bring underrepresented groups into the picture, even if profits are sacrificed.
A common (and well-deserved) criticism about the wellness industry is that the majority of products and services out there are geared to those with money to spend and time to spare. As Dr. Shari Auth, co-founder of WTHN, a buzzy New York acupuncture studio, noted, “So many of the tenets of wellness aren’t expensive at all, like taking a walk, rest, meditation. But as it became trendy, wellness started becoming a luxury space.”
It has also become an incredibly white space. Want proof? The vast majority of wellness social media influencers are young, thin, and white. Yogis in digital stock photos also tend to be young, thin, and white. But as the wellness industry matures, there are attempts to make it more gender-neutral and socioeconomically and racially diverse.
New companies like Brandless and Public Goods are springing up with a variety of affordable healthy product lines, while niche players like Black Girl in Om and Undefined Beauty cater to women of color. And HealHau
