Feminist Perspectives on 12-Step Recovery: A Comparative Descriptive Analysis of Women in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous

Abstract

This article provides a comparative feminist analysis of women in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). A second-wave and third-wave theoretical lens is applied to women in these two different recovery programs. Although notable differences are found between women in AA and NA, the common thread that links the second-wave feminist to third-wave feminist analysis is the shared persistent stigma and shame that addicted women from 12-Step programs experience.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous
• 12-Step recovery
• women
• stigma
• shame

Notes

¹The first wave of the feminist movement in the United States began in the late 19th and early 20th century and is often equated with the women's suffrage movement.

²Many particular forms of feminisms (cultural, identity, spiritual, eco, etc.) have contributed to the third wave in addition to the inclusion of different types and groups of women.

³NA's triennial survey, conducted at its world conventions, varies in its count of racial composition of its membership. In 2007, the survey conducted in San Antonio, TX reported 73% White and 14% African American.

⁴According to the U.S. Census (2010), for the city under consideration, 47.4% of its female population older than age 15 have never been married.

⁵Integrated treatment approaches for addiction and other mental illnesses have been developed, advocated and shown to be effective. See Minkcoff (1989, 2002) or Osher & Kofoed (1989) for further discussion.

Note. ^aDifferent questions used to measure the items under Women-only Meetings. AA survey included a list to check if applicable. The NA survey included open-ended responses. Respondents were not limited to one answer, only.

⁶For more on stigma, drug abuse, and social inequality see Boyd (1999) and Ben-Yehuda (1990).