‘There’s Nothing Classy About a Drunk 40-year-old’: The Role of ‘Respectable’ Femininity in the Drinking Biographies and Sobriety Stories of Midlife Women

Nicholls, Emily

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-04017-7_11

Cited by 4 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Studies evaluating participation in these programs have shown that being newly sober provides opportunities for doing identity work [ 40 , 41 ]. Such findings are echoed in other research with those new to sobriety; for example, research with recently sober women living in the UK suggests sobriety is an opportunity to reclaim control and agency over one’s life and present a more ‘authentic’ self [ 42 ], particularly for midlife women [ 43 ]. Within this research, sober curiosity is framed as a flexible and positive ‘lifestyle choice’; a decision to reduce drinking is promoted as beneficial for everyone and linked to wellness, authenticity, personal growth and improvements of the mind and body [ 34 ].…”

Section: The ‘Sober Curious’ Movement and Reducing Alcohol Consumptionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Sober Curiosity: A Qualitative Study Exploring Women’s Preparedness to Reduce Alcohol by Social Class

Lunnay

Nicholls

Pennay

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Background: Urgent action is required to identify socially acceptable alcohol reduction options for heavy-drinking midlife Australian women. This study represents innovation in public health research to explore how current trends in popular wellness culture toward ‘sober curiosity’ (i.e., an interest in what reducing alcohol consumption would or could be like) and normalising non-drinking could increase women’s preparedness to reduce alcohol consumption. Methods: Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 27 midlife Australian women (aged 45–64) living in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney in different social class groups (working, middle and affluent-class) to explore their perceptions of sober curiosity. Results: Women were unequally distributed across social-classes and accordingly the social-class analysis considered proportionally the volume of data at particular codes. Regardless, social-class patterns in women’s preparedness to reduce alcohol consumption were generated through data analysis. Affluent women’s preparedness to reduce alcohol consumption stemmed from a desire for self-regulation and to retain control; middle-class women’s preparedness to reduce alcohol was part of performing civility and respectability and working-class women’s preparedness to reduce alcohol was highly challenging. Options are provided for alcohol reduction targeting the social contexts of consumption (the things that lead midlife women to feel prepared to reduce drinking) according to levels of disadvantage. Conclusion: Our findings reinstate the importance of recognising social class in public health disease prevention; validating that socially determined factors which shape daily living also shape health outcomes and this results in inequities for women in the lowest class positions to reduce alcohol and related risks.

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Section: The ‘Sober Curious’ Movement and Reducing Alcohol Consumptionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Sober Curiosity: A Qualitative Study Exploring Women’s Preparedness to Reduce Alcohol by Social Class

Lunnay

Nicholls

Pennay

et al. 2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The research around sober curiosity has chiefly examined women's experiences, who seem to be overrepresented in temporary abstinence programs such as FebFast, an annual health and charity event in Australasia that encourages people to take a 28-day break from alcohol, sugar, junk food, smoking or social media after the December/January holiday season. This could be due to neoliberal discourses around femininity, respectability, and appropriate ageing that influence the way that women perceive alcohol consumption (Lunnay et al, 2022;Nicholls, 2022). Similarly, women are overrepresented in social media accounts and online communities that promote and support sober curiosity (Lunnay et al, 2022).…”

Section: The Sober Curious Movementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Issues around identity and sobriety in women were explored in a UK-based study conducted by Nicholls (2022), who used semi-structured interviews with women aged 24-58 (with half the participants in their 40s). The participants defined themselves as previously moderate-to-heavy drinkers, and the study explored how the women reconciled their new non-drinking selves with their past drinking identities whilst navigating relationships and considering their long-term non-drinking future (Nicholls, 2022). The study found intersections between ageing and gender, as participants had disrupted their previous identities as "drinkers", which had been central to their social identities.…”

Section: Identity and Abstinencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study found intersections between ageing and gender, as participants had disrupted their previous identities as "drinkers", which had been central to their social identities. They were now negotiating their perceptions of appropriate femininity, ageing, and respectability (Nicholls, 2022). These women felt responsible for looking after their health, physical appearance (weight and ageing), and identities as excellent and responsible mothers.…”

Section: Identity and Abstinencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…These women felt responsible for looking after their health, physical appearance (weight and ageing), and identities as excellent and responsible mothers. The themes that emerged from the analysis reflected broader neoliberal societal norms about the "appropriate femininity" expected of women (Nicholls, 2022). Although this study focused on a small number of women in England, it does provide insights into the experiences of an older age group (midlife), as most of the participants were around the age of 40 and were born at a time when alcohol consumption was seen as a masculine activity.…”

Section: Identity and Abstinencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Alcohol Abstinence: The experience of middle aged non-drinkers in New Zealand

Power

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<p dir="ltr">There is a growing number of people choosing to abstain from alcohol. The reasons for abstaining can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as the growing awareness of the long-term impact of alcohol consumption, the rise of wellness trends that emphasise self-care, career and economic pressures, and life changes that can contribute to people prioritising different interests.</p><p dir="ltr">This research aimed to explore the lived experiences of middle-aged non-drinking adults navigating social environments in New Zealand, where alcohol is part of the socio-cultural landscape, shedding light on the intricate interplay between culture, health, and individual choices. Going beyond a lifestyle choice, non-drinking in this context signifies a departure from the deeply ingrained cultural norm of alcohol consumption. The qualitative research design with a thematic analysis was informed by a phenomenological framework, with data collected from individual interviews with 11 participants aged 35 to 50, three male participants and eight female participants, all identified as parents. The interviews were then transcribed and subject to thematic analysis, which identified four themes: "Considering abstinence," which depicted the participants’ contemplation period before becoming non-drinkers. "Consolidating the decision- The first steps in becoming a non-drinker" highlighted the early challenges and positive aspects after sobriety. “Developing strategies to navigate their post-drinking lifestyle” depicted the change in social dynamics and participants’ use of masking to manage social occasions. And finally, "Living socially as non-drinkers” highlighted relational changes, including positive parenting and feeling more authentic. These findings contribute to understanding the motivations, challenges, and social repercussions of this lifestyle choice, offering insights into this demographic. By gaining insight into people’s experiences of non-drinking, societal perceptions and stereotypes around abstinence, the research aimed to enrich the understanding of social and cultural dynamics surrounding alcohol consumption. Furthermore, it can help to inform policies supporting alcohol regulation and alcohol-free spaces, as well as informing health professionals in comprehending the multifaceted aspects of drinking and abstinence in New Zealand's normative drinking culture.</p>

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Through the wine glass: How biographical midlife transitions and women's affective interpretations interact with alcohol consumption

Lunnay

Seymour

Foley

et al. 2023

International Journal of Drug Policy

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‘There’s Nothing Classy About a Drunk 40-year-old’: The Role of ‘Respectable’ Femininity in the Drinking Biographies and Sobriety Stories of Midlife Women

Cited by 4 publications

References 42 publications

Sober Curiosity: A Qualitative Study Exploring Women’s Preparedness to Reduce Alcohol by Social Class

Sober Curiosity: A Qualitative Study Exploring Women’s Preparedness to Reduce Alcohol by Social Class

Exploring Alcohol Abstinence: The experience of middle aged non-drinkers in New Zealand

Through the wine glass: How biographical midlife transitions and women's affective interpretations interact with alcohol consumption

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