The number of middle-aged women being hospitalised due to excessive alcohol consumption has nearly doubled during the pandemic, according to a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum. This research follows last year’s findings that revealed alarming increases in alcohol-related deaths among women, particularly those aged between 35 and 50 years old. The rate of heavy drinking also grew twice as fast for this demographic compared to men over the past decade.
As Kara Alaimo, an associate professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University explains in a CNN commentary piece based on her recently published book ‘Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back’, American women are increasingly turning to alcohol as they struggle with societal pressures, including overwhelming workloads and expectations.
Celeste Yvonne, author of ‘It’s Not About the Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind Mommy Wine Culture’, discusses in her book that “for many mothers …wine is just an undertone for something far more nefarious and disturbing”, due to a combination of factors such as societal expectations surrounding motherhood, insufficient support systems when returning to work after having children, and the mental load associated with caring for young ones.
In light of these issues, Alaimo suggests that our society must confront its treatment towards women while addressing how alcohol is presented in popular culture. Pew Research Center data from last year revealed that even among heterosexual couples where both partners earn similar salaries, men still spend more time on leisure activities than their female counterparts who devote a larger proportion of this to housework and caregiving. In the United States today, childcare can cost significantly more than college tuition fees – making it inaccessible for many families – and working women may struggle with getting their schedules at short notice as last-minute arrangements are often impossible due to high demand.
Alaimo argues that this is just one of the numerous challenges facing modern women, alongside alarming increases in domestic violence against females over recent years, coupled with persistent gender pay gaps and stereotypical views about leadership roles for women at work. As a result, some mothers may turn to alcohol as they struggle under these pressures.
The study published by JAMA Health Forum warns of the potential devastating consequences of excessive drinking in both men and women alike – including liver disease, heart problems, gastric issues, and cancer risks linked with all forms of alcohol consumption, be it red or white wine, beer, or spirits. The time has come for our society to rethink its expectations towards women as Alaimo proposes solutions such as companies taking steps in lightening workloads for mothers by ensuring men contribute more household tasks while caregiving and childcare resources are developed on a national scale alongside reducing prejudice surrounding the working lives of females. Women also require better support when dealing with alcohol abuse, according to Holly Whitaker’s book ‘Quit Like A Woman: The Radical Choice To Not Drink In A Culture Obsessed With Alcohol’, as traditional treatment programmes for heavy drinking often don’t resonate well with women due to their socialisation.
Alaimo highlights the pressing need in tackling this alarming trend where individuals find it acceptable to joke about alcohol consumption, which is prevalent on popular culture platforms such as social media – a problem that needs addressing by all of us collectively.
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