On the Rocks

<P>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.</P><P>In <I>On the Rocks</I> Stewart asks a question others might prefer stay buried: 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 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.</P>