Social Justice, Diversity & Inclusion Keynote: Are We There Yet? Gender Equity in Recovery Settings

Gender equity in recovery settings is the first topic we will tackle. Women represent just over 57% of the undergraduate college population in 2015 and are projected to climb to  58.8% of the total college population by 2024. While not as underrepresented as people of color in collegiate recovery programs (CRPs), women do make up a smaller share of CRP participants at 42.8%. While women are just as likely as men to become develop SUDs, they have lower rates of substance use and SUDs overall, and experience unique obstacles to treatment. Women of color may face additional obstacles and are at greater risk of being subjected to violence. We invite men, women, and transfolk alike to join our feminist recovery panel as we delve into issues of equity and inclusion. While some have deemed feminism, "the other "F" word, we will talk about how feminism benefits everyone. We bring an intersectional lens - realizing that no one shows up or experiences life through one aspect of identity. Our panelists will share from research, personal experience, and program data in order to describe how current societal structures inhibit the opportunities for women to get sober and work a program of recovery and the negative impact on men, collegiate recovery programs, higher education, and society as a whole. Considering an individual, group, and institutional framework for feminism, we hope to inspire attendees to challenge themselves to bring a feminist lens to their work to better create equity and access within collegiate recovery.