Why do Women Smoke?

Why do Women Smoke?

The number of women smokers, especially women who are aged 45 to 65, has risen in the last decade or two. Anti-smoking groups blame it on the failure to increase tobacco prices. But, can low prices alone be the reason for women, or even men, to smoke?

Many women take to tobacco because they regard cigarettes as symbol of freedom and the so-called image of power they think comes with smoking. There is an interesting story about how America accepted female smoking. The beginning of the 1900's saw a movement demanding a woman's right to vote. The 19^th Amendment of 1920 finally granted this right. Edward Bernay, nephew of Sigmund Freud, was then promoting Lucky cigarettes for American Tobacco. He seized this opportunity and hired young models to join the Easter Parade in New York and pose as suffragettes while lighting up cigarettes and wearing banners describing their cigarettes as 'torches of liberty'. Cigarette sales to women skyrocketed and spread throughout the country. Smoking was associated with women's liberation and anyone opposing smoking was dubbed as 'against women's liberation'.

There are other reasons as well as to why women smoke. According to Health Canada, most women smoke to relax and take a break. Some smoke to deal with stress and depression while others are believed to be fighting feelings of helplessness or dealing with anger and frustration through tobacco use.

Data from the Institut National de Pr�vention et d'Education pour la Sant� (Inpes) showed that 50 percent of the unemployed took to smoking.

A Thai study on the association of tobacco and alcohol use with socio-economic factors indicated alcohol misuse to be the strongest predictor of smoking. The researchers also found that smoking and tobacco use is inversely related to education and family income. Lesser the education and lower the income, higher the rate of smoking.

Similar results were obtained by Indian studies where the researchers concluded that the greatest tobacco consumption is observed among illiterate and less educated people. They also found that smoking significantly correlated with prevalence of coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.

Tobacco companies are also responsible to some extent in encouraging girls and women to smoke. According to the WHO, women in China represent the largest potential market for tobacco companies. Cigarette manufacturers created cigarette brands which they promoted as mild and low in tar. Tobacco advertisements themed their products around women's independence, stress relief, and even losing weight. Which woman can resist that!

References:

1. Gupta R. Smoking, educational status and health inequity in India. Indian J Med Res. 2006 Jul;124(1):15-22.
2. Aekplakorn W, Hogan MC, Tiptaradol S, Wibulpolprasert S, Punyaratabandhu P, Lim SS. Tobacco and hazardous or harmful alcohol use in Thailand: joint prevalence and associations with socioeconomic factors. Addict Behav. 2008 Apr;33(4):503-14. Epub 2007 Nov 4.

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