Women and Alcohol in Social Context : Mother’s Ruin Revisited

Drinking alcohol can be immensely pleasurable and life-enhancing. On the other hand, it can be associated with danger and risk. This book explores some of the implications of this dichotomy, which creates many policy and practice dilemmas, by a detailed exploration of the place of drinking in women's lives. Interviews and case-studies show women's drinking practices to be constructive and autonomous responses to the social and material contexts of their lives. The Place Of Drinking In Women's Lives Is Explored By Contrasting The Lives Of Thirty Professional Women With Those Of Thirty Non-professional Women. This Demonstrates That Social Advantage Provides Increased Access To The Enjoyments Associated With Alcohol Use But Is Not Necessarily A Protection Against The Risks. Different Employment And Social Contact Patterns Are Reflected In Drinking Styles. Drinking To 'drown Sorrows' May Be A Folk Idea But There Is Some Truth In It, As Some Women Try To Cope With Profound Feelings Of Having Failed As Women, Either As Partners Or As Mothers. Two Case-studies Of Women With Identified Drinking Problems Continue This Theme Of Drinking As A Constructive Response To Their Differing Social And Material Situations.--jacket. Foreword / Elizabeth Ettorre -- 1. Introduction: Have A Drink -- 2. What Encourages Women To Drink? -- 3. Women Account For Drinking Differences -- 4. Drinking Careers -- 5. Occupational Hazards -- 6. Social Circles -- 7. Bottling It Up -- 8. Satisfaction Or Solace: Two Case Studies -- 9. Preventing Alcohol-related Harms -- 10. Promoting Fair Shares For All. Jan Waterson ; Foreword By Elizabeth Ettorre ; Consultant Editor, Jo Campling. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 199-218) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction: Have a Drink....Pages 1-23 What Encourages Women to Drink?....Pages 24-45 Women Account for Drinking Differences....Pages 46-67 Drinking Careers....Pages 68-84 Occupational Hazards....Pages 85-104 Social Circles....Pages 105-125 Bottling it up....Pages 126-144 Satisfaction or Solace: Two Case Studies....Pages 145-165 Preventing Alcohol-related Harms....Pages 166-183 Promoting Fair Shares for All....Pages 184-198 Back Matter....Pages 199-223