Women in AA — Recovery Resources and What to Know

Alcoholics Anonymous was founded primarily by men in 1935, and the Big Book was written largely from a male perspective. But women have been in AA since the very beginning — and today, nearly 40% of AA members are women. The program works for women. It also requires some additional context to navigate.

Women and the Big Book

The 4th Edition of the Big Book includes a significant number of personal stories from women, added in later editions to reflect the reality that alcoholism affects everyone. The stories of Lois Wilson and other early women in the program are woven throughout AA's history even when the main text doesn't make them visible.

Finding Women's Meetings

Many women in recovery prefer women-only meetings, particularly early on. The dynamics are different, and the safety of an all-women space allows for a different kind of sharing. AABlueBook's meeting finder lets you filter by meeting type, making it easier to find women's meetings in your area.

Free year on iOS: bit.ly/aabfree. Android: FREEMONTHFL on Google Play. The program works. One day at a time.