Podcast Summary

Podcast: New Books Network – New Books in Sociology
Episode: Susan D. Stewart. "On the Rocks: Straight Talk about Women and Drinking" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022)
Date: September 20, 2025
Host: Michael (New Books)
Guest: Dr. Susan D. Stewart, Professor of Sociology, Iowa State University

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Michael interviews Dr. Susan D. Stewart about her book On the Rocks: Straight Talk about Women and Drinking. The conversation centers on the changing patterns of alcohol use among women, the cultural and social forces driving increased consumption, and the hidden complexities and stigmas of women’s drinking. Stewart draws on her research, which includes interviews with women about their relationships with alcohol, and highlights the lack of acknowledgment and vocabulary around women’s drinking behaviors. The episode also touches on Stewart’s ongoing research, including the impacts of COVID-19, drinking in LGBTQ+ communities, and the topic of cannabis use among women.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Focus on Women and Alcohol? (03:04–05:25)

• Stewart’s research draws on both her academic interests in gender, family, and women’s health, and personal observations about changing drinking trends.
• Statistically, women’s alcohol consumption has increased notably in recent decades, especially among midlife women, closing the gap with men’s alcohol use.
  • “Women’s and men’s alcohol use has been converging, and not because men’s alcohol use has been declining or leveling off, but because women's alcohol use has been increasing to match men’s.” – Susan Stewart [03:59]
• Media representations (TV shows, films, products) have normalized and glamorized women’s drinking as part of fun and coping.

2. Social and Cultural Forces Encouraging Women’s Drinking (05:49–08:16)

• Workplace cultures now often include drinking, and “wine mom” culture has woven alcohol into parenting and social bonding among mothers.
• Participation in drinking is both networking and gender performance; not joining can lead to social exclusion.
  • “It’s one of the few behaviors that you have to defend not doing… You’re rarely asked, ‘Why do you drink?’ You’re asked, ‘Why aren’t you drinking?’” – Susan Stewart [07:41]
• Social drinking is considered acceptable, and drinking alone carries stigma.

3. Lack of Language and Research Around Women’s Drinking (08:39–10:01)

• There’s a limited vocabulary for describing acceptable versus problematic drinking, especially for women.
• The dichotomy in discourse – either "lighthearted fun" or "raging alcoholic" – overlooks the complex, contextual nature of women's drinking.
  • “Women’s drinking is highly dependent on their partner’s level of drinking, the social setting… we know very little about those kinds of variables.” – Susan Stewart [09:24]
• Stewart’s approach uses qualitative interviews to probe the everyday, nuanced experiences of women’s drinking.

4. Drinking Across Life Stages and Family Dynamics (11:41–14:23)

• Stewart’s study focused on women over 25 to avoid short-term college binge-drinking trends.
• Women navigate their drinking carefully around children, often using “guardrails” (not drinking in front of kids, limiting amount/timing) and distinguishing themselves from stereotypes of problematic drinkers.
  • “They made sure to communicate that they had all these guardrails up… there were all these ways that they communicated that they weren’t… a bag lady with a bottle of whiskey.” – Susan Stewart [13:29]
• Acknowledges the social complexity in managing both drinking behaviors and the narratives shared with others, particularly children.

5. Stigma, Labeling, and Self-Perception (16:14–18:15)

• Strong emphasis on the stigma and label management women face regarding drinking. Stewart invokes Goffman’s theory of impression management.
  • “There’s some… performance management… how they’re trying to manage their impressions… by saying I’m not that person, but yes, I do drink.” – Michael [16:28]
• Many participants qualified as having a mild alcohol use disorder on standardized instruments, though none self-identified as more than “social drinkers.”
  • “About a third of them qualified as having a mild alcohol use disorder… which I thought was fascinating because none of them considered themselves anything more than a social drinker.” – Susan Stewart [17:32]

6. Health Consequences and the Need for Research (19:49–21:58)

• Stewart underscores health risks: women face more negative health effects from drinking than men due to factors such as hormones and metabolism.
• Old notions that moderate drinking is good for health are no longer supported; “no level of drinking is healthy.”
  • “It used to be, ‘oh a glass of wine with dinner, it’s good for your heart.’ Subsequent studies have shown no level of drinking is… good for you.” – Susan Stewart [21:03]
• The book seeks to increase awareness, spark conversation, and promote transparency.
  • “I did want people to know… here’s a trend… why are they doing it? If women are drinking to reduce stress related to their husbands, their work, their kids, well, that’s… a concern.” – Susan Stewart [21:40]

7. Recent and Ongoing Research (24:00–25:25)

• Stewart conducted a survey during COVID-19, finding increases in alcohol use, especially day drinking.
• There is higher prevalence and riskier patterns of drinking in LGBTQ+ communities, with ongoing research in that area.
  • “If you put in Google or Google Scholar, Susan Stewart and alcohol use or day drinking… one of my papers… has to do with the prevalence of day drinking during COVID.” – Susan Stewart [24:24]

8. Future Directions: Cannabis Use (25:40–26:54)

• Many women in recent interviews mention shifting to or combining cannabis use with alcohol, especially with legalization.
• Stewart notes an observed decline in alcohol use potentially offset by cannabis, with plans to research further.
  • “I didn’t intend to set out to ask them about cannabis, but some of the women started talking about how they were sort of switching over or they were using both… I was going to start doing research on that.” – Susan Stewart [25:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Women’s and men’s alcohol use has been converging… because women’s alcohol use has been increasing to match men’s.” – Stewart [03:59]
• “It’s one of the few behaviors that you have to defend not doing… you’re asked, ‘Why aren’t you drinking?’” – Stewart [07:41]
• “Women’s drinking is highly dependent on their partner’s level of drinking, the social setting…” – Stewart [09:24]
• “About a third of them qualified as having a mild alcohol use disorder… none of them considered themselves anything more than a social drinker.” – Stewart [17:32]
• “No level of drinking is healthy for you… that’s definitely a concern.” – Stewart [21:03]

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:04–05:25 | Why write about women and alcohol? | | 05:49–08:16 | Social/cultural context and “wine mom” culture | | 08:39–10:01 | Lack of vocabulary and research on women’s drinking | | 11:41–14:23 | Drinking across life stages, family/parental dynamics | | 16:14–18:15 | Stigma, self-perception, and alcohol use disorder findings | | 19:49–21:58 | Health risks, transparency, purpose of research | | 24:00–25:25 | COVID-19, LGBTQ+ community research | | 25:40–26:54 | Future research: cannabis use among midlife women |

Further Reading and Research Access

• Stewart encourages listeners to find her papers on day drinking and LGBTQ+ alcohol use by searching her name with related keywords on Google Scholar.
  • “Susan Stewart and alcohol use or day drinking…”

In summary:
This episode explores the under-recognized realities of women’s drinking, exposing both the societal forces at play and the intricate personal negotiations women must make. Stewart’s candid, research-based approach offers crucial insight into how and why more women are drinking—and why we need a fuller, more nuanced conversation about it.