Culture of Recovery: Making Sense of the Self-help Movement in Women's Lives - Softcover

Rapping, Elayne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0807027170 ISBN 13: 9780807027172

Publisher: Beacon Press, 1997

Synopsis

A thoughtful exploration of the recovery movement and its impact on contemporary life—from talk shows and self-help books to Clinton's presidential campaign.

About this title

From Publishers Weekly

In her examination of the self-help phenomenon, Rapping, professor of communications at Adelphi University (Media-tions: Forays into the Culture and Gender Wars), attended numerous recovery meetings, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and its imitators, interviewed female participants and watched hours of TV talk shows where women described experiences of abuse or other severe problems with men. She also analyzed self-help books, which are aimed primarily at women. Although the author disagrees with the recovery movement's emphasis on the individual woman's responsibility for solving her problems, thereby ignoring the role of societal oppression of women as a contributing factor, she argues that, despite this "weakness," feminism is at the core of the recovery movement because women are now at least able to identify their pain. Unfortunately Rapping's commitment to this theory undermines her otherwise interesting critique of the self-help movement.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

'Media critic and columnist Rapping (communications, Adelphi Univ.) brings her thoughtful insight to the topic of the recovery movement and its impact on contemporary life. The author discusses several interesting issues, among them the history of second-wave feminism, the groups involved in the recovery movement, and self-help books. While not preachy or judgmental, the writing is effective and interesting. The author has attended many recovery group meetings, and here she discusses her observations in detail. The topic of television talk shows and their relation to the recovery movement is also covered. This is highly readable social commentary. The book definitely deserves a place on most public library shelves.
Priscilla Davis Dann, Gates Mills P.L., Cleveland
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0807027170
• ISBN 13: 9780807027172
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 232