The use of tobacco is a phenomenon largely attributed to a single gender up till now—it has been generically attributed to men all across the world. It is because of this general outlook, numerous social norms, and gender-based taboos that the topic of tobacco use among women is rarely debated over. Nevertheless, studies by the World Health Organization have shown that there are presently more than 250 million women all across the globe who use tobacco.
While the phenomenon is somewhat similar to men’s usage of tobacco, it is also very distinct in some regions too. And these are some of the most common observations:
Global Facts And Figures
Tobacco usage in women is globally increasing, when compared to previous decades. At present, female tobacco users make 20% of the total tobacco users in the world, according to the Tobacco Free Kids campaign. However, this figure is predicted to significantly increase in the near future.
In many developed as well as developing countries, the rate of women tobacco users is lower if compared to the men in their regions as well as to a large number of women using tobacco in various forms in the under-developed and third world countries. It is said that some women in the metropolitan cities prefer the tobacco intake in the form of a paan which is a special kind of leaf with nuts and tobacco folded in or a little cigar.
How Is Tobacco Marketed To Women?
Advertisements are particularly targeted at women and young girls, attracting them towards tobacco use. The attraction is most evident among women and girls from low- and middle-income backgrounds, particularly in the under-developed and third world nations. In those regions, there is a strong belief that tobacco-using women stay slim and smart and are the bearers of the romantic notions of fashion and glamour.
Ways Of Tobacco Intake In Women
Tobacco manufacturers are reported to use various aggressive and provoking ways to attract women to buy the products and try more and more varieties of tobacco. While most tobacco-using women smoke simple cigarettes all around the globe, some small groups of women in some regions can also be found using various interesting ways to fulfill their tobacco intake needs.
In the Middle East, women can be increasingly seen restoring to water pipes and other ways of smokeless tobacco use.
Similarly, a large number of women and girls prefer to use smokeless tobacco ways over smoking regular cigarettes in some Asian countries too.
In the underdeveloped regions of the world, women, particularly those in their reproductive ages, prefer chewing raw tobacco or use other tobacco products in raw form. Women in India’s major regions like to use teeth cleaning powder made up of roasted tobacco leaves, named mishri.
In the sub-Saharan Africa desert, women love to use snuffs, pipes, and rolled tobacco leaves to fulfill their tobacco needs.
According to a WHO report on women tobacco usage in the Mediterranean region, it was found that women and girls there also used water pipes and smokeless tobacco.
Many women all around the globe are not using tobacco directly, but have considerable exposure to it in the form of second-hand smoking or what is also called passive smoking from someone else who used tobacco in the home.
Addiction And Termination Of Tobacco In Women
Studies across the globe on women and tobacco addiction have asserted that women are likely to get addicted strongly to any tobacco-containing product in comparison to men who find it easy to give up on tobacco usage whenever they want. Could this be, partially, because of fears like gaining weight and experiencing depression after they have stopped using tobacco. Another reason may be the lack of support from family and friends in their aim to stop using tobacco.
No matter what, the concept of women using tobacco is still not considered as normal as that of men using it. The major reason for this is the traditional disapproval of tobacco use by women, which comes from the ancient societal and cultural ideas of women and their behavior.
Nevertheless, with an increase in the number of women using tobacco products regularly and openly, the stereotype is expected to end since now the social and cultural norms regarding women’s tobacco use may also be going up in smoke.