This paper summarizes results from 28 studies on female alcoholics. There is agreement on the high incidence of alcoholism in all first degree relatives; the onset is at a later age than men; the woman alcoholic reports a higher incidence of broken marriage, drinking related to stress, sexual maladjustment, more depressive symptoms, episodes, & suicide attempts. Alcoholism in women frequently occurs secondary to an affective illness & is accompanied by more suicidal behavior than seen in males.