Let's now talk about the particular kinds of ways that women alcoholics are hidden. I need hardly say how much we all know that the stigma around a woman alcoholic is much greater than around men. It's much harder for a woman to admit to alcoholism than it is for a man to admit to it. Therefore, the death rate from alcoholism, percentage-wise, in women who have alcoholism is higher than it is in men who have alcoholism. All kinds of categories of women, that's what we're talking about.
Alcoholism is a disease that happens irrespective of age, class, socio-economic status, etc.
As they say in treatment recovery, alcoholism is a democratic disease. It's very hard to admit that one's mother or grandmother is alcoholic. You also see denial among women alcoholics who are professionals. Not only do THEY not want to see alcoholism, but neither do their families, very often. Because now women are rising up in the ranks, and they've spent so much time and money and energy going to graduate schools and professional schools.