Existing portrayals of women who drink typically fall into two categories: disturbing stories of women hitting “rock bottom,” resulting in ruined careers, families, and futures, or amusing stories of fun and harmless “girls’ nights out,” with women drinking and overindulging as a temporary escape from a never-ending list of work and family demands. Drawing on original research and extensive interviews with a diverse group of women, author Susan Stewart challenges these stereotypes, revealing women’s complex relationships with alcohol and factors associated with its use.
In On the Rocks Stewart asks a question others might prefer stay buried: what about womens lives have changed such that they drink more alcohol? Stewart’s participants share stories of the many social forces that encourage women to drink: increased marketing of alcohol to women, the growing presence of alcohol in the workplace, pressure to drink from friends and family, and that drinking provides an easy “time-out” from children and housework. Stewarts unvarnished examination of women and drinking challenges readers to think through its implications to individuals, families, and society.
Susan D. Stewart is professor of sociology at Iowa State University. She is author or co-author of several books including Co-Sleeping: Parents, Children, and Musical Beds, Marriages, Families, and Relationships, Brave New Stepfamilies, and Multicultural Stepfamilies. Her research focuses on gender, family diversity, parenting, and children and adults’ physical, social, and emotional health. She has published articles on a range of topics in leading peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Marriage and Families, Journal of Family Issues, Demography, and Journal of Gynecology and Women’s Health. Dr. Stewart resides in Ames, Iowa with her husband, daughter, and three cats.
Acknowledgments
A Note on the COVID-19 Pandemic
1 Stormy Seas
2 Beneath the Surface
3 Changing Tides
4 Reflecting Pools
5 Treading Water
6 Ripple Effect
7 Sea Legs
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
Women might want to think before they drink, observes Stewart, a professor of sociology, as she presents a compelling case for abstaining in this heavily footnoted book…. Important and informative. — Booklist
Following data that show that women are drinking more since 2000—encompassing general alcohol usage, high-risk drinking, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorder—Stewart provides a qualitative study that asks “What about women’s lives has changed such that they drink more alcohol?”…. It is intriguing to read about how women in her study interpret drinking in the 21st century, making this a valuable piece in a larger story about the intersections of alcohol use/non-use and family, marketing, mothering, mental wellness, and social media. Some of the topics covered include growing support for women’s drinking, alcohol’s impact (positive and negative) on women’s reputation in social and kinship groups and relationships with family and friends, and common misinformation about what qualifies as dangerous drinking. Recommended. All levels. — Choice Reviews
Pairing themes from her own interviews with statistics and quantitative research findings, Stewart provides important insight into individual, interpersonal, and social factors that have led women to drink more in recent years. Her unbiased analysis shows that while women’s drinking isn’t “good” or “bad,” the trend of increasing alcohol consumption among women is something we really need to explore and be more aware of! — Abigail Riemer, assistant professor of Psychology, Carroll University
On the Rocks is a sometimes sassy, sometimes somber exploration of the complexities of women’s lives. Susan Stewart dives into the reasons women drink and provides the reader with compelling narratives of why we should care more about womens alcohol use. A must-read for anyone interested in women’s relationship with alcohol. — Kelly Harding, Research Associate, Canada FASD Research Network
