Acknowledging Gender in Women-Only Meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous

Abstract

This research examines from a feminist perspective the participation of women in the gendered space of women-only Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. Taken from a survey of women who attend women-only meetings in a metropolitan area, data reflect that these women hold liberal feminist views, have experienced severe forms of oppression before recovery, but once in AA, help to create a culturally feminist environment by supporting women-only meetings. Moreover, in spite of AA's alleged patriarchal culture, this sample of women acknowledges and supports its own gendered space in AA, but does so as a supplement to and not as a substitute for AA in general.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• feminist
• gender
• recovery
• women-only meetings