title: Labelling out: the personal account of an ex-alcoholic lesbian feminist.
abstract: In this paper, I look at my past alcohol dependency from a political as well as personal perspective. I consider the problems caused in my life and that of other lesbians by alcohol abuse, outdated treatment methods and self-help organizations such as AA, which misrepresent social factors leading to alcohol abuse. I focus on a series of themes: the personal and political; lesbian bar styles; alternative realities; lesbian problem drinking; problems facing lesbians in treatment and engaging with Alcoholics Anonymous; treatment as it often is and treatment as it should be.
authors.affiliation: University of Plymouth, Faculty of Social Science and Business, School of Sociology, Politics and Law, Drake Circus, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom. patsy.staddon@blueyonder.co.uk
authors.forename: Patsy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Staddon
mesh_terms: D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011057:Politics; D013240:Stereotyping