At the beginning of the 20th century, female smokers were extremely rare. Smoking was synonymous with poor character, low social status, and prostitution. In fact, the stigma of women smoking was so great that that Congress considered banning women from smoking in the District of Columbia in 1921. (National Research Center for Women & Families, 2004) Tobacco companies have targeted women for years by appealing to the issues that women are interested in such as independence, …showed first 75 words of 787 total…

…showed last 75 words of 787 total…sgr/sgr_forwomen/index.htm National Research Center for Women & Families (2004, May 2004). SMOKING IS A WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUE. Retrieved 7/11/05, from http://www.center4research.org/ibrief-05-04smoking.html Partnership for Smoking or Health (2001, March 20, 2001 ). TOBACCO INDUSTRY TARGETING OF WOMEN AND GIRLS. Retrieved 7/11/05, from http://www.moalpha.org/docs/news/tob_partnership/women_target.html Thrupkaew, N. (2001, 2/14/2001). The New Face of Tobacco . Retrieved 7/11/2005, from http://www.zmag.org/sustainers/content/2001-02/14thrupkaew.htm