On the Rocks: Straight Talk About Women and Drinking

by Susan D. Stewart

Existing portrayals of women who drink typically fall into two 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 what about women's lives have changed such that they drink more alcohol? Stewart’s participants share stories of the many social forces that encourage women to 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.

Genres: Nonfiction

165 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2022

Reviews

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could literally not stop reading this book. It was on the shelf at the library of new books, and I have such an interest in the way society portrays mommy wine culture that I thought this might be an interesting read. It’s definitely written in a more academic fashion, which makes sense as the author is an academic! That being said I loved reading the case studies of the attitudes of alcohol consumption, and about the way cultural forces shape how women consume alcohol. Excellent read.

[krissy peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too much data that I already was aware of.