Women's intoxication as ‘dual licentiousness’: An exploration of gendered images of drinking and intoxication in Sweden

Abstract

In this article, it is suggested that an important cultural image of intoxication in some Western societies appears to be 'intoxication as ecstasy', intoxication as escape from the everyday into a 'wild' and 'natural' state. The purpose of this article is to discuss this cultural image and its link to gendered ideas about sexuality and, on the basis of this discussion, to develop a hypothesis for further testing. The hypothesis developed proposes that women -via the cultural linking of their sexuality to biological processes of reproduction -are placed closer to nature than men. This makes women's drinking and intoxication seem more dangerous than men's, because drinking and intoxication would seem to make women come even closer to nature. It is suggested that women's 'dual licentiousness' threatens the distinction between nature and culture.

New media and old stereotypes. Images and discourses about drunk women and men on YouTube

“…Following this tradition, female alcohol consumption is mainly interpreted as a sign of sexual willingness (Leigh, 1995;Room, 1996;Wilsnack & Wilsnack, 1997) and 'dual licentiousness' (Bogren, 2008). This representation does not seem to result entirely from a unilateral and male point of view (the authors of erotic videos are all men), but seems to have the approval and consent of the women involved, who in most cases clearly contribute to 'broadcasting themselves' with this sexual meaning, both as video protagonists and as commenters.…”

“…This is primarily due to the fact that women are generally expected to control not only their own alcohol and sexual behaviour, but also that of men. Intoxication is inappropriate for a woman not just because it is considered unfeminine (Törrönen & Juslin, 2011), but also because it can make her more available and easier prey for men, by indulging in what has been called a 'dual licentiousness' (Bogren, 2008). Female alcohol consumption and drunkenness are seen as deviations from the expected sexual and social roles of women, who are mainly regarded as mothers, sexually controlled and sexual controllers (Bogren, 2008).…”

“…Intoxication is inappropriate for a woman not just because it is considered unfeminine (Törrönen & Juslin, 2011), but also because it can make her more available and easier prey for men, by indulging in what has been called a 'dual licentiousness' (Bogren, 2008). Female alcohol consumption and drunkenness are seen as deviations from the expected sexual and social roles of women, who are mainly regarded as mothers, sexually controlled and sexual controllers (Bogren, 2008). In line with this, White and Kilbourne (2006) state that stigmatization of addicted women has been based on two main stereotypes: that they were unrestrained sexually, and that they were bad mothers.…”

“Girls will be served until you have to carry them out”: Gendered serving practices in Oslo

“…In Sweden, Bogren (2008) has argued that even if drinking patterns and normative gender discourses have changed, the image of drinking women as sexually licentious still exists. In a study of Swedish youth, Abrahamson (2003) found that female intoxication was perceived as morally questionable.…”

“…Heavy drinking among men is more often excused or neutralized, whereas similar behavior on the part of women is viewed as deviant and is criticized (Montemurro & McClure, 2005;Simonen, Törrönen, & Tigerstedt, 2013). Further tension arises in relation to public intoxication, which tends to be less acceptable for women due to connotations of promiscuity, loss of femininity, and concerns about their increased vulnerability to unwanted sex (Bogren, 2008;Plant, 2008;Young, Morales, McCabe, Boyd, & d'Arcy, 2005). Moreover, stereotypes of women drinkers as being more sexual are well documented in the literature (Parks & Scheidt, 2000;Wilsnack, 1991).…”