South Asians first arrived to England in the 1950’s and 60’s, they immediately stood out from the crowd by showering the streets with colourful garments, the languages they spoke and the big families that accompanied them. However, something much greater was notable amongst these foreigners, and it wasn’t just their type of food either. Asians came to the UK armed with strong traditional values. They walked with pride following a certain culture and upbringing derived from back home, they had their own way of living that no one was about to change!
Coming fresh from native countries, Asian values were as strong as ever being passed down to their children. A tradition more important to follow than others was ‘No Smoking’ especially acquainted with Asian females. With many years resided the tables have turned, what used to be a taboo subject of the Asian society has crept its way forward into the spotlight.
We investigate reasons behind the increase of Asian women who turn to smoking and how does this behaviour almost seem acceptable in this day and age.
To spot a young woman of South Asian origin smoking would have been looked upon as immediate shame on the family and perhaps a one way ticket to India, Pakistan or Bangladesh in eradicating the problem. As generations have skipped the social and cultural constraints adopted from Eastern countries which previously prevented many women smoking are weakening thus, allowing full integration with the western culture creating room for concern as the number of Asian women using tobacco is poised to increase.
When comparing prevalence rates between men and women, a generally consistent finding is that smoking rates are higher among men than women. However there is also considerable variation between countries where the rates among men and women are nearly equal, such as in the USA.
Interestingly, in a study by the World Lung Foundation, it found that India ranks third in the top 20 female smoking populations across the globe. India has over 10 million female smokers.
An increasing number of women irrespective of religion or background have started to smoke. And it is a lifestyle choice that is no longer held back by culture or traditional values. Women want to express their individuality, their freedom and anger from running a dictated lifestyle which, in turn has become labelled as rebellious behaviour.
Despite smoking bans in work, leisure and living places, Asian women seem to have taken up the habit more prominently. And the increase has many factors associated with it than just an image.
Behind every Asian woman smoker unfolds a different kind of story, for most smoking is a form of escapism, and an attack on being told what to do. Unlike white British females, British Asian women are not just smoking to ‘look cool’ or struggling with conformity, but smoke to break beyond their boundaries.
It is difficult for a British born South Asian woman to define the type of person she is when society puts her at the centre of tug and war between cultures. With generations lapsing the pressure eases on today’s 21st century woman from being the traditional sheltered Asian that she was, to a modern westernised woman, and therefore, smoking has become part of this new look amongst Asian females. This is in the form of cigarettes, joints, paan and hooka smoking in Sheesha lounges which are very popular amongst Brit-Asian women.
We spoke to a group of Asian women that smoke on a regular basis, and asked the reasons behind their habit.
Geeta, a 37 year old divorcee, has been smoking for a couple of years now, and blames her addiction on the stress and depression from a failed marriage. Looking back she says: “I can always remember the constant nagging before marriage, being told what to do by parents and family. Do this – do that, it was the pain of my life but the only way I was going to guarantee a decent husband and family life – so I was told!”]
source ; cigarettesflavours