An Historical Review of Women, Smoking and Advertising

Abstract

Female lung cancer mortality is increasing at a steady rate. With increasing numbers of young women starting to smoke at earlier ages and at higher rates, there is cause for some concern among health educators. The situation also presents a challenge to understand and to reverse these statistics.

A review of historical events between 1935 and 1979 of anti-smoking publicity, the growth in cigarette advertisers' appeal to women, and the changing proportion of women smoking was undertaken. Historical data were examined for notable relationships among these three areas. These relationships can provide some insights as to what interventions might prove successful in arresting the growth in the numbers of young female smokers.