In Barbara Ehrenreich’s Bright-Sided, she argues that positive thinking has negative effects on our country. In chapter one, the author recounts her experiences when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. From the mammogram test to waiting for the results, to the decision of mastectomy versus chemotherapy, she explains all the choices that she had to battle her cancer. There are many support websites and groups for breast cancer, she noticed that a popular theme was to stay positive despite the disease. The survivors of breast cancer would say that their cancer changes their lives for the better and made them have a new appreciation for life. Some going as far as saying that the cancer was meant to happen, it was God's plan, it was a gift from God, etc. …show more content…
She wondered why nobody was angry about having this disease, people on the forums encouraged her to stay positive or proposed that she get psychiatric help. Most people try to stay positive thinking that it would help their chances of surviving. Even though sources she included say that it is an unfair burden to put on these women's that they have to stay positive. Ehrenreich's position on the subject was that emotions had no effect on cancer and that positivity would not prolong your life. Positivity will not help the state of patients cancer, support groups may help the patient’s state of mind but it does not have an effect on the biological aspects of the disease and if it is forced upon patients it is just another burden on the long existing