Addiction Recovery at the Intersections of Religion, Gender and Sexuality

Abstract

This chapter charts the intersections between addiction recovery, which is increasingly expressed as an identity, , and relgiion, gender and sexuality, categories that are rarely examined together. It demonstrates, first. that recovery spiritulaities are normative in relation to gender and sexuality, and such narratives and language can disempower, obscure and oppress already stigmatized and marginalised actors. It argues that the labour of recovery lies heavy on gendered and sexual miniorities, but also that for many participants, recovery communities and spiritualities are sites of empowerment and autonomy.