Journal Facts

Journal
International Journal of Self-Help and Self-Care
ISSN
1091-2851 (print) 1541-4450 (electronic)
Volume
2
Issue
4
Date
12/1/2004

Article Facts

Title
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS
DOI
10.2190/4A25-MBXK-81UX-JLVA
Authors
  • PETER FERENTZY
  • WAYNE SKINNER
  • PAUL ANTZE
Pages
271-280
Online Date
02/01/2006

Article Links

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS

PETER FERENTZY
WAYNE SKINNER
PAUL ANTZE

DOI: 10.2190/4A25-MBXK-81UX-JLVA

Abstract

Gamblers Anonymous (GA) has earned a reputation in the literature as a fellowship with very few women and as host to a recovery culture that marginalizes women's needs and concerns. A notable example would be the preponderance of "war stories"--recovery jargon for graphic and often disturbing accounts of one's life in active addiction--said to alienate many women. However, a 16-month study of GA in the Toronto area has found that this mutual aid organization has changed significantly over the last 10 to 15 years. The number of women in the Toronto area now stands at possibly 20% and rising, war stories no longer predominate, and other changes amenable to women have also taken place. There is good reason to believe that these shifts in GA's recovery culture have not been limited to Toronto. Still, this was a preliminary study, and these findings call for detailed quantitative verification.

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