While over 30 percent of the nation's 10 million alcoholics and problem drinkers are women, the severity of female alcoholism is statistically understated. The female inebriate is hidden by society and underserved by current treatment programs. Alcoholism in females has continued to be considered synonymous with male alcoholism. The purpose of this paper is to educate social workers about the differences between male and female alcoholics; to facilitate the identification of characteristics common to female inebriates; and to propose an approach to the effective treatment of female alcoholics. Differences between male and female alcoholics are discussed, covering such areas as family background, employment, divorce, drinking patterns, and pathology. Characteristics of female alcoholics, including a family lineage of alcoholism, partner selection, family pathology, antecedents to alcoholism, behavioral patterns, and demographic background, are explored. Changes in service provisions for the treatment of female alcoholics are proposed for staffing patterns, program environment, diagnostic work-up, treatment modalities, prevention, and outreach. (WAS)