The Tobacco Reference Guide

by David Moyer, MD.


Chapter 24 Women and smoking

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Women and smoking: General

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The tobacco companies say that their advertising is not aimed at attracting new

smokers, but only to get established smokers to switch to their brand. In 1984 Virginia

Slims was introduced to Hong Kong, where only 1% of women smoked. It was clearly

targeted at young women, with the usual images of beauty, slimness, and desirability,

combined with clear messages of emancipation. But because so few women in Hong

Kong smoked, the number who could brand switch was negligible, and the expensive

advertising blitz seemed to be a clear attempt to create a new market. The same type

of promotion aimed at women is seen in many developing countries, where currently

only an average of 5% of women are smokers.

Thorax 46:153, 1991

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A columnist noted in Vogue magazine a mini-catalogue of upbeat fashion items from

"Virginia Slims Promotional Services." She remarked: "Maybe they ought to drop the

stuff about fetal death and lung cancer and go with something like 'WARNING:

Smoking cigarettes dramatically reduces the glamour value of your clothes and forces

you to take them to the cleaners more often, which can damage the fabric.' Millions would quit tomorrow."

Ann Conway, LA Times, March 4, 1994, p. E1

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In February 1994, Josephine Camel made her debut in multi-page spreads in major

magazines. "It's a reckless and dangerous campaign to lure more young female smokers into the fatal confines of Joe's place."

Sidney Wolfe, Public Citizen

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For a given number of cigarettes smoked in a lifetime, women may run twice the risk that men smokers do for developing lung cancer.

Associated Press, September 22, 1993

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