Women in AA
Kathleen W. Fitzgerald, PH.D.
ISBN: 1-882195-03-5
In June, 1996, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University published the landmark study, “Substance Abuse and the American Women,” stating that women were as vulnerable to, and participated in alcoholism to the same degree as men. Alcoholism could no longer be accused of gender bias.
Every Friday morning for years I have attended a wonderful Big Book AA meeting for women in recovery. Every Friday morning we read stories from Alcoholics Anonymous, affectionately called the “Big Book” by AA members. Many of the stories are written by women. We seem to read and discuss these stories with more knowing, with deeper humor and with greater identification.
And so it was one cold winter night, as I sat on our front porch and watched the stars, the idea for Women in AA dropped into my lap. For years I had intuitively known that women were equally represented in the manifestation of the disease of alcoholism. I saw with my own eyes that half the folks in AA were women, and it was time for their stories of trial and triumph to be shared.
The Irish say, “When you pray for potatoes, pick up a hoe”. So I sent a “Call for Manuscripts” to 900 newspapers through the US and Canada, assuring potential contributors of our adherence to Tradition 12, wherein each women’s anonymity would be protected.
Eighty women from 26 states and throughout Canada trustingly sent us their stories, each in her own way articulating the issues that we, as recovering women, must integrate into our recovery if we want a peaceful, joyful recovery.
These stories and reflections invite you to use them to examine some of your own thoughts and feelings and possibly to discover the special meanings that these stories may hold for you. Take from them what you want and leave the rest. So in giving to you this little book, we are giving back in some way what we have received from AA. Namely, our lives.
Chapter 1
Bird with one wing
Chapter 2
Black beauty
Chapter 3
Poor little rich girl
Chapter 4
House of smiles
Chapter 5
Young...Wild...Alcoholic
Chapter 6
The night the bottle let me down
Chapter 7
Just call it love
Chapter 8
On the "Red Road to Freedom"
Chapter 9
To sleep like a baby
Chapter 10
Keeping secrets
Chapter 11
Journeying Through grief
Chapter 12
The gift of the Rainbow
Chapter 13
Hidden reservations
Chapter 14
Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus
Chapter 15
Loving a wretch like me
Chapter 16
Adrift no more
Chapter 17
The colors of my life
Chapter 18
Facing the music
Chapter 19
Carousel of life
Chapter 20
Bingo
Chapter 21
Leftover love