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In American society, the sexually desirable woman is young and thin. Changes associated with aging such as wrinkled skin or weight gain often bring women further from societal ideals of attractiveness. As physical appearance is very much related to desirability, we explore sexual body image and the way that it changes as women age. Based on in-depth interviews with 95 women aged 20-68, we find women's sexuality and feelings of desirability are influenced by physical appearance, media, as well as significant others and family. We also note that sexual body image is more often negative than positive for women of all ages and that women struggle to accept changes in their bodies as a result of the aging process and life experiences; however, women in their 50s and 60s are most likely to accept their bodies and not feel influenced by social pressures.

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In this research, we examined the role of alcohol as both substance and symbol at bachelorette parties. The bachelorette party is characterized by ritualized embarrassment of the bride and by sexualized games, both of which are made easier by heavy alcohol consumption. As there are few occasions when it is considered socially acceptable for women to drink, the bachelorette party provides a unique opportunity to explore women's social drinking and public drunkenness. Based on interviews with 51 women we found that drinking seemed to add to the fun of bachelorette parties and that group alcohol consumption appeared to increase social solidarity as women at bachelorette parties bonded over their shared experience. Finally, women relied on alcohol to lower inhibitions so that they were able to feel justified in engaging in deviant behavior. Women's use of alcohol in this ritual challenges existing gender norms and conceptions of masculinity and femininity. KEY WORDS: gender; alcohol; bachelorette party; lowered inhibitions.Gender norms dictate appropriate behavior for men and women. Whereas such expectations are modified and reconstructed as society at large changes, the undercurrent of traditional gender roles remains powerful in many areas of social life. One such area is alcohol consumption. Although women are no longer legally restricted from entering bars or having drinks in them, women's use of alcohol, particularly excessive use, is viewed differently than that of men. Because it is consistent with masculinity, heavy drinking and consequent boisterous or rowdy behavior among men is often excused or neutralized, whereas similar behavior on the part of women is viewed as deviant and is criticized. However, as the number of women attending college-a prime site for binge drinking and public drunkenness in Americaincreases, women's drinking norms and behaviors become more visible. Residential colleges afford young