Alcoholics Anonymous isn ’t sexist – it’s supportive and free | Letters

Readers who have attended AA praise the service it providesHolly Whitaker ’s views about Alcoholics Anonymous need to be challenged (‘AA’s rules are written for men’, G2, 14 January). At meetings I attend there are individuals who have lost jobs, families and have been rough sleepers. AA being for “the people who sit at the top of our society,” not for the marginalised is the opposite of my experience. Membership of AA is free, unlike the $197 (reduced rate) for Ms Whitaker’s Tempest, which would make her organisation only for the socially advantaged. AA meetings are full of people who have lapsed many times and are unfailingly welcomed back as opposed to being made to feel “kind of stupid”. Men are twice as likely to be affected by alcoholism but membership of AA is 38% female. The “ego” that AA refers to relates to obsessively thinking about oneself rather than reaching out to others for help and offering support to them. Many atheists attend AA.Name and address supplied• Holly Whitaker’s assertion that patriarchy is the root of the AA programme paints a picture of AA I do not recognise. I am a woman, member of AA and a feminist. AA is one of the only places I go in my daily life where everyone is equal and anyone can share their feelings without fear of judgem ent. There is no hierarchy. Us women are not required to hand power over to men.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Alcoholism Health Society Feminism Women World news Gender Psychology Science Psychiatry Source Type: news