The Raab Writing Fellows Journal

CTRL: A Critical Examination of the Wellness Industry is a research project that studies how the commodification of well-being has negatively impacted 21st-century American society. The Wellness industry, a multi-trillion-dollar entity with sectors ranging from beauty and weight-loss to mental wellness and wellness tourism, has co-opted concepts of self-care, monetized them, and turned massive profits. The success of the industry hinges on the idea that self-optimization—calculated critique and individualized improvement—is the same as self-care, yet it is that same notion that ultimately undermines the prospect of commercialized wellness fostering true well-being. By examining the history, evolution, and consequences of the industry’s growing cultural relevance, I intend to shed light on the darker potentials of an industry that is perceived as a virtuous force promising comfort, care, and control in volatile contemporary times.