In the past fifteen years, the concept of toxic positivity has been a topic of discussion, with activists like Barbara Ehrenreich and Soraya Chemaly critiquing the relentless pursuit of optimism and self-improvement. Ehrenreich, in her battle with breast cancer, experienced firsthand how toxic positivity can deny reality and blame individuals for their suffering. Chemaly, in her book „The Resilience Myth,“ delves into the idea of resilience and how it can be harmful when it places the burden on individuals rather than addressing systemic issues.
Chemaly argues that resilience, when viewed as an individualistic virtue, can lead to victim-blaming and overlook the importance of community support and social determinants of suffering. While she makes valid points about the limitations of mainstream ideas of resilience, her critique is also flawed. She overlooks the nuanced understanding of resilience in psychology, which emphasizes the importance of social support, emotional competence, and dynamic processes in coping with adversity.
One of Chemaly’s key arguments is that resilience is often associated with masculinity, militarism, and capitalism, leading to harmful initiatives that prioritize toughness and productivity over flexibility and nurturing roles. She criticizes programs like the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness for promoting harmful ideals and contributing to societal issues like the storming of the US Capitol. However, her broad generalizations and oversimplifications detract from a more nuanced understanding of resilience and its role in individual and societal well-being.
While Chemaly’s book raises important questions about the limitations of resilience as a concept, it falls short in providing a balanced critique. By dismissing the role of individual psychology and focusing solely on systemic factors, the book misses an opportunity to explore how both personal and societal factors contribute to resilience. Ultimately, „The Resilience Myth“ reads more as a political manifesto than a thoughtful analysis of the complexities of resilience and its implications for individuals and society.