We’re usually taught that changing the world has to be a grind. You know the vibe: endless meetings, burnout, sacrifice, and a general sense of misery that proves you’re "doing the work." But there’s this radical idea that’s been bubbling up for years—mostly championed by Black feminists—that suggests we’ve got it all backward. It’s called pleasure activism: the politics of feeling good, and honestly, it’s a lot more complex than just taking a bubble bath or buying a weighted blanket.
It's about power.
Basically, if you’re part of a marginalized group, being happy is a political act. When the world tells you that your body or your life doesn't matter, finding joy isn't just a "nice to have." It’s a rebellion.
Where This All Started (It’s Not Just a Trend)
You can't talk about this without mentioning adrienne maree brown. Her 2019 book, Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, really blew the doors off the conversation, but she’s the first to tell you she didn't invent the concept. She stands on the shoulders of giants like Audre Lorde. Back in 1978, Lorde wrote a legendary essay called Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power. Lorde wasn't just talking about sex; she was talking about a deep, internal sense of satisfaction that, once you feel it, you refuse to settle for anything less in your life or your politics.
Think about that for a second.
If you know what true, deep resonance feels like, you become much harder to oppress. You stop accepting "fine" or "surviving." You start demanding "thriving."
Brown took these ideas and looked at how they apply to modern organizing. She realized that many social justice movements were actually toxic. They were fueled by guilt, shame, and exhaustion. If the "world we are building" feels like a chore, why would anyone want to live there? Pleasure activism argues that we should make justice the most pleasurable experience we can have.
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The Problem With the "Self-Care" Industrial Complex
There’s a massive misconception that this is just a fancy way of saying "treat yourself." It’s not.
The "Self-Care" industry—which is worth billions, by the way—wants to sell you products to help you cope with a stressful world. It’s individualistic. It’s about you fixing yourself so you can go back to work on Monday. Pleasure activism: the politics of feeling good is different because it’s collective. It asks: How can we all feel good together?
It’s about shifting the baseline.
Most of us are walking around with what brown calls "pleasure deficits." We’ve been socialized to believe that pleasure is a luxury or, worse, a sin. We’ve been told that we have to "earn" the right to feel good by being productive. This is especially true in capitalist structures where your worth is tied to your output. If you aren't producing, you don't deserve rest. If you aren't suffering, you aren't committed.
Breaking that cycle is incredibly hard. It requires unlearning a lifetime of messaging.
Real-World Examples of Pleasure as Resistance
What does this actually look like in practice? It’s not always big protests or flashy events. Sometimes it’s tiny.
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The Nap Ministry: Founded by Tricia Hersey, this "organization" (it's more of a movement) advocates for rest as a form of racial justice. Hersey explicitly calls sleep a "racial justice issue" and "reparations." By refusing to be productive, you are reclaiming your body from a system that historically viewed certain bodies only as labor.
Somatic Healing: This is about getting out of your head and into your body. Many activists use breathwork, dance, or group singing to process trauma. It’s not just "woo-woo" stuff; it’s about regulated nervous systems. A regulated activist is a more effective activist.
Community Gardens and Food Sovereignty: Growing your own food and sharing it with neighbors isn't just about nutrition. It’s about the pleasure of the earth, the taste of a real tomato, and the joy of a communal meal. It’s a middle finger to corporate food systems that prioritize profit over flavor and health.
Why We Get It Wrong
People often hear "pleasure" and think it’s hedonism. They think it’s about being selfish or ignoring the problems of the world.
That’s a total misunderstanding.
Pleasure activism doesn't mean ignoring the news or pretending systemic racism doesn't exist. It means that to fight those things long-term, you need a fuel source that isn't anger. Anger is a great starter motor, but it’s a terrible fuel. It burns out. Joy, on the other hand, is sustainable.
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There’s also a huge shadow side to pleasure. We have to acknowledge that addiction, exploitation, and "numbing out" are often confused with pleasure. True pleasure activism is about aliveness. If you’re using a substance or a behavior to stop feeling, that’s not pleasure—that’s anesthesia. The distinction is vital. One expands your world; the other shrinks it.
How to Actually Apply the Politics of Feeling Good
If you want to move beyond the theory and actually live this, you have to start with your own "yes."
Most of us are experts at saying "no" to ourselves. We say "no" to a nap, "no" to a walk, "no" to a hobby because we have "too much to do." Pleasure activism requires you to find your "authentic yes." What actually makes you feel alive? Not what you’re supposed to like, but what actually sends a spark through your nervous system.
It’s also about boundaries. You cannot have a pleasurable life if you can’t say no to things that drain you. This is where the "politics" part comes back in. Setting a boundary with a boss or a toxic family member is an act of pleasure activism. You are prioritizing your well-being over the demands of a system that doesn't care about you.
Actionable Shifts You Can Make Right Now
- Audit your "shoulds": For one day, every time you say "I should," stop. Ask yourself if you actually want to do it or if you’re just performing a role. If it’s the latter, see if there’s a way to do it differently—or not at all.
- Find your "Glimmers": You've heard of triggers, but glimmers are the opposite. They are small moments that signal safety and joy to your brain. A specific smell, a song, the way light hits a wall. Train your brain to notice them.
- Check your community: Look at the groups you belong to. Are they fueled by shame and "call-out culture," or do they celebrate each other? If a space feels like a constant drain, it’s not practicing pleasure activism.
- Reclaim the Erotic: Read Audre Lorde’s essay. Seriously. It’s short, it’s free online, and it will change how you view your own desires. It’s about the "yes" within yourself that you can use as a compass.
Pleasure activism isn't a destination; it's a practice. It's a way of moving through a world that is often cruel and finding the pockets of warmth that allow you to keep going. It’s about realizing that you don't have to wait for the "revolution" to feel good. Feeling good is how you make the revolution happen.
By centering joy, we aren't just surviving the status quo—we are making it obsolete.