Women for Sobriety
Sample Solution
The 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous were written in the 1930s, and they reflect the cultural norms of that time. In the past 90 years, our culture has changed significantly, and some people believe that the 12 Steps should be updated to reflect these changes.
One of the biggest changes is in the area of gender roles. In the 1930s, women were often expected to be subservient to men. This is reflected in the 12 Steps, which use masculine language throughout. The 13 Steps from Women for Sobriety, on the other hand, use gender-neutral language and are more inclusive of women's experiences.
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Another change is in the area of spirituality. The 12 Steps are based on a Christian understanding of God. However, many people who struggle with addiction are not religious. The 13 Steps from Women for Sobriety are more inclusive of people with different spiritual beliefs.
Here is a more detailed comparison of the 12 Steps and the 13 Steps:
| 12 Steps | 13 Steps |
|---|---|
| We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable. | We decided that we wanted to recover from our addiction and improve the quality of our lives. |
| Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. | We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could help us recover. |
| Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. | Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of a Power greater than ourselves as we understood It. |
| Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. | Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. |
| Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. | Admitted to ourselves, to another human being, and to a Higher Power the exact nature of our wrongs. |
| Were entirely ready to have God remove all of these defects of character. | Were entirely ready to have our defects of character removed. |
| Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. | Humbly asked our Higher Power to remove our shortcomings. |
| Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. | Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all except when to do so would injure them or others. |
| Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. | Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. |
| Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. | Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. |
| Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. | Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with a Higher Power, praying only for knowledge of Its will for us and the power to carry that out. |
| Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. | Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other women who suffer from addiction, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. |
As you can see, the 13 Steps are very similar to the 12 Steps. However, there are a few key differences. First, the 13 Steps are more inclusive of women and people with different spiritual beliefs. Second, the 13 Steps are more specific about the goal of recovery. The 12 Steps say that the goal is to be "restored to sanity." The 13 Steps say that the goal is to "recover from our addiction and improve the quality of our lives."
So, is it right to tamper with something that has stood the test of time? Some people would say yes. They would argue that the 12 Steps are outdated and that they need to be updated to reflect the changes in our culture. Others would say no. They would argue that the 12 Steps are a classic for a reason and that they should not be changed.
Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they agree with the changes to the 12 Steps. There is no right or wrong answer.