smokers-study
Women find smokers unattractive: Survey
Mrityunjay Bose
20 February , 2008
Mumbai: Three out of four youngsters are not interested in marrying a smoker. Nearly nine out of ten girls said that they did not find smokers or tobacco users attractive and almost half the youngsters interviewed said that they are never comfortable in the company of smokers.
'Every child has the right to a tobacco-free childhood' is the cry of the times. Salaam Bombay Foundation, the NGO involved in creating awareness on the ill-effects of tobacco and working to give children a healthy tobacco-free future released the results of its research conducted by Ormax Consultants, a leading qualitative market research company at the Kala Ghoda festival this year.
The results of the dipstick study on the "Attitude of the youth on smoking and tobacco usage amongst themselves and their partners" revealed that 8 out of 10 girls surveyed did not find a smoker attractive and 67% girls would not date a smoker. "I'm not at all surprised at the results of this survey", says actress Suchitra Pillai: "A lot of my women friends give dirty looks or show their irritation when a man lights up near them."
Why would 75% women not want to marry a smoker? Namrata Baruwa Shroff, a model turned architect says many of her own friends find it difficult to lead their life with a smoker husband. "It causes a very unhealthy environment at home. I'm fortunate I fell in love with and married a non-smoker," she says.
47% of the youth clearly stated they want to be in a smoke-free environment only and were never comfortable with having a smoker near them. Shamita Singha, a model and television host states. "We all love smoke-free environments. Ciggie smoke or breadth can be disgusting for a non-smoker. And it's only fair that you don't force people to be passive smokers."
On the reason why youngsters take to this deadly habit 46.4% attributed it to peer pressure. 30.4% stated that the biggest reason for smoking was to combat stress and tension. Ace hairstylist Coleen Khan Affonso spoke about the indifference which the 18-20 years group had to the dangers caused by smoking: "Many in the age group 18-20 take to it due to peer influence and unfortunately only later do they realize the immense harm it causes—to one's skin, hair and overall health."
Devika Chaddha, Project Director, Salaam Bombay Foundation says: "Since 2002 Salaam Bombay has been working extensively with young people. We wanted to know more about the perceptions that youngsters had on tobacco users. The fact, that so many women feel smoking is uncool, or finds a smoker repulsive should be an eye-opener for both active and vulnerable smokers."
The research was conducted at the Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai between 3rd February and 10th February, 2008 and over 791 youngsters (524 males and 264 females) in the age group 18 to 25 years participated in the survey.
Mrityunjay Bose
20 February , 2008
Mumbai: Three out of four youngsters are not interested in marrying a smoker. Nearly nine out of ten girls said that they did not find smokers or tobacco users attractive and almost half the youngsters interviewed said that they are never comfortable in the company of smokers.
'Every child has the right to a tobacco-free childhood' is the cry of the times. Salaam Bombay Foundation, the NGO involved in creating awareness on the ill-effects of tobacco and working to give children a healthy tobacco-free future released the results of its research conducted by Ormax Consultants, a leading qualitative market research company at the Kala Ghoda festival this year.
The results of the dipstick study on the "Attitude of the youth on smoking and tobacco usage amongst themselves and their partners" revealed that 8 out of 10 girls surveyed did not find a smoker attractive and 67% girls would not date a smoker. "I'm not at all surprised at the results of this survey", says actress Suchitra Pillai: "A lot of my women friends give dirty looks or show their irritation when a man lights up near them."
Why would 75% women not want to marry a smoker? Namrata Baruwa Shroff, a model turned architect says many of her own friends find it difficult to lead their life with a smoker husband. "It causes a very unhealthy environment at home. I'm fortunate I fell in love with and married a non-smoker," she says.
47% of the youth clearly stated they want to be in a smoke-free environment only and were never comfortable with having a smoker near them. Shamita Singha, a model and television host states. "We all love smoke-free environments. Ciggie smoke or breadth can be disgusting for a non-smoker. And it's only fair that you don't force people to be passive smokers."
On the reason why youngsters take to this deadly habit 46.4% attributed it to peer pressure. 30.4% stated that the biggest reason for smoking was to combat stress and tension. Ace hairstylist Coleen Khan Affonso spoke about the indifference which the 18-20 years group had to the dangers caused by smoking: "Many in the age group 18-20 take to it due to peer influence and unfortunately only later do they realize the immense harm it causes—to one's skin, hair and overall health."
Devika Chaddha, Project Director, Salaam Bombay Foundation says: "Since 2002 Salaam Bombay has been working extensively with young people. We wanted to know more about the perceptions that youngsters had on tobacco users. The fact, that so many women feel smoking is uncool, or finds a smoker repulsive should be an eye-opener for both active and vulnerable smokers."
The research was conducted at the Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai between 3rd February and 10th February, 2008 and over 791 youngsters (524 males and 264 females) in the age group 18 to 25 years participated in the survey.
Comments