Attendance Tables

Statistics on the Programs of Alcoholics Anonymous and Women for Sobriety

Reasons Why Women Attend Alcoholics Anonymous

Sharing and learning	31%
Like AA's program	30%
Friends and Fellowship	29%
Insurance	28%
Support	27%
Need its availability	25%
Told to go	21%

Source: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
11:(3), 185-195, 1994

Top 10 Reasons For Not Attending Alcoholics Anonymous

1)	Didn't fit in; felt uncomfortable at AA	20%
2)	AA is too negative	18%
3)	Didn't like the God part or religious aspect	15%
4)	Too male oriented and geared towards men's needs	15%
5)	WFS offers more support, understanding and growth	15%
6)	AA stuck on the past; I need to focus on future	14%
7)	Dislike drunkalogs, negative stories, grandstanding	14%
8)	Like/need positive focus of WFS	12%
9)	Dislike concept of powerlessness over my drinking	11%
10)	AA too authoritarian, rigid; can't question philosophy	10%

Source: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
11:(3), 185-195, 1994

Examples Of What Women Get Out Of WFS

Responses related to the Support Group
Support and Nurturing	54%
Nurturing atmosphere Caring for one another Feel cared for Support Supportive group
Friendship	26%
Friendship Women are friendly New experiences, activities New Interests Social
Helping	15%

Responses relating to the All Women aspect
Female role models; sober female role models Cross-generational sharing We bring out the best in each other Women understand each other best All women Like it that it's only women Absence of males Absence of male rules Absence of male role models	42%

Responses relating to the meeting Environment
Can talk about anything	30%
Chance to talk about basic women things Can talk about anything
Safe and Intimate	26%
Safe Environment Safety; i.e. I trust these people Not afraid Intimate Easy to talk Comfortable Humor and laughter

Responses related to the Program Philosophy
Self Esteem/Self Reliance	39%
Personal Confidence Self-esteem Self-worth Competent Personal power and control I'm in control of my life Self reliance Emphasis on doing it yourself (vs higher power)
Like Program/Positive Results	38%
Positive program Absence of negativism Like positive approach to life, to sobriety Like the affirmations Requires no belief in God or a higher power Like the idea that drinking problem no longer has me Less structured Less predictable Like it that crosstalk is ok Don't have to identify as alcoholic No competition to speak
Thinking vs Formula	16%
Tolerance Non-judgmental Lack of directives Encourage thinking Encouraged to think why I slipped No slogans, platitudes, formulas

Source: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
11:(3), 185-195, 1994

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