The Impact of Mommy and Wine Memes on Women's Drinking Habits
As alcohol abuse among women rises, Kara Alaimo sheds light on the societal implications of humorous memes about motherhood and wine. It's time to reflect on how women are perceived and how alcohol is portrayed in our conversations.
Kara Alaimo, an associate professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University, shares her insights on women and social media. She recently published a book called "Over the Influence: Why Social Media Is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Take It Back" with Alcove Press. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and X. Please note that the opinions expressed in this commentary are her own. For more opinions, visit CNN.
A recent study published in the journal JAMA Health Forum revealed that the number of women aged 40 to 64 who were hospitalized due to alcohol abuse nearly doubled during the pandemic.
Kara Alaimo
KaraAlaimo
This research follows a study from last year which showed that alcohol-related deaths are increasing at a faster rate among women. In 2022, it was discovered that the number of women aged 35 to 50 who consumed five or more drinks in one sitting grew twice as quickly as men over the past ten years.
American women are increasingly abusing alcohol, often with devastating outcomes. To address this issue, our society needs to reflect on how women are treated and the concerning way we discuss alcohol.
As Celeste Yvonne (her pen name) points out in “It’s Not About the Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind Mommy Wine Culture,” many mothers, including herself in the past, use wine as a coping mechanism for the overwhelming pressures of motherhood, lack of support upon returning to work, and the societal expectation to handle everything effortlessly.
Research conducted by Pew Research Center last year reaffirmed a common understanding: in heterosexual couples, men tend to spend more time on leisure activities even when both partners earn similar incomes, while women typically dedicate more time to household chores and caregiving responsibilities. Additionally, women employed in service jobs often receive their work schedules at the last minute, making it difficult to arrange childcare. In the United States, the cost of childcare can exceed that of college, making it unaffordable for many families. Consequently, some mothers like Yvonne may resort to alcohol as a coping mechanism for the overwhelming workload and stress they face.
These challenges are just the tip of the iceberg for women in our society. There has been a disturbing rise in incidents of domestic violence against women in recent years. In the workplace, women earn an average of 84 cents for every dollar earned by men and are confronted with pervasive stereotypes that question their suitability for leadership roles.
At schools across several states, boys have created and circulated nude deepfake images of their female classmates.
At schools across several states, boys have created and circulated nude deepfake images of their female classmates.
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Opinion: This harmful trend is more than just a simple 'youthful transgression.'
When people have a tough day, what is their go-to response? Often, they joke about having a drink. Yvonne highlights the prevalence of this behavior, noting the popular memes on social media like 'Mommy needs wine' and 'I wine because my kids whine.' She also mentions the availability of infant onesies on Amazon with phrases like 'I'm the reason mommy drinks.'
It is important for all of us to refrain from sharing and finding humor in the harmful message that alcohol consumption is not linked to cancer. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, all types of alcoholic beverages, such as wine, beer, and liquor, have been associated with an increased risk of cancer. The more alcohol you consume, the greater your risk of developing cancer. A recent study published in JAMA Health Forum also highlights the other serious health issues that alcohol can lead to, especially for women, including liver disease, heart problems, and gastric issues.
Our society needs to reevaluate its unfair expectations and treatment of women and put an end to the harmful advice of using alcohol as a solution to problems. It is crucial for us to recognize and address the real challenges that women, especially mothers, face in our society. This includes employers stopping the practice of expecting employees to overwork and men taking on more responsibilities in household chores and caregiving.
Our society needs to have adequate childcare systems and resources for women leaving abusive homes. It also needs to address its biases against women in the workforce.
Women struggling with alcohol abuse require better support. In "Quit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink In a Culture Obsessed With Alcohol," Holly Whitaker shares why traditional methods of quitting drinking may not work for many women. She references the work of Carol Lee Flinders, pointing out that these programs are often tailored to change the way men think and behave.
Men are usually encouraged to resist the urge to drink in treatment programs, as they have the freedom to act on their desires. However, women in our society may not have the same privilege to indulge in their desires, so this message may not resonate with them.
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Whitaker writes that what truly helped her wasn't getting rid of her sense of self, staying silent, denying her desires or body, or shutting herself off from the world - it was actually the opposite that led to her healing.
It's crucial for our society to closely examine the social norms and expectations that are contributing to the high rates of alcohol abuse among women. We must also refrain from sharing jokes and memes that make light of using harmful substances as a coping mechanism for the challenges individuals face, regardless of gender.
Treatment programs should be tailored to address the unique ways in which women are socialized to think and behave, rather than assuming that strategies effective for men will also work for them. It's important to recognize that alcohol is a growing threat to women's health and well-being, and it's crucial to take this issue seriously.
Editor's P/S:
The article sheds light on the alarming rise in alcohol abuse among women, particularly during the pandemic. This issue is deeply rooted in the societal pressures and expectations placed on women, such as the overwhelming workload of motherhood, lack of support upon returning to work, and the expectation to handle
