The Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-step model was developed to help a specific population of white, middle-class, heterosexual men with a specific problem: alcoholism. As the program is applied to a wider variety of issues, with diverse populations, the model's generalizability has been called into question. Its applicability to outgroups is, at best, uncertain. At worst, the addiction model and its notion of powerlessness could have serious negative consequences. Until now, there has been scant research on the effect of using the program with marginalized people. Because of difficulties accessing these populations, the present study used innovative qualitative research methods to answer questions about the consequences of membership in twelve-step programs for a marginalized group: African-American women. This paper documents some of the problems that can occur when a program designed to solve a specific problem among a hegemonic group is used to address everyday activities of marginalized people.
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