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Tobacco marketing in South Korea has been deliberately aimed at girls and young women. Research published in the open access journal Globalization and Health has shown that transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) are using tactics long used with devastating effect in Western countries to snare new female smokers in Asia.

Of course they are. I cannot tell you how many young girls got into bad smoking habits because they wanted to maintain a slender figure or lose weight. One of the side effects of nicotine is that it is an appetite suppressant. So it's only natural that tobacco companies would use that to their sick advantage.

The tactics used recall advertising campaigns carried out in the United States and Europe since the 1920s that link smoking with feminism and the liberation of women. According to Kelley Lee from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, "Product design associating smoking with body image and female emancipation, familiarly deployed elsewhere, have been extensively used in South Korea to appeal to female smokers. So-called "ultra light", "low tar" and "superslim" cigarettes have been particularly effective, falsely suggesting certain brands offer a healthier or safer option, as well as appealing to female concerns about weight gain. Tighter restrictions on the use of such descriptors, alongside public education on the fallacy of such claims, are badly needed in South Korea".

Lee concludes, "The implementation of comprehensive tobacco control measures in South Korea, as set out under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, is urgently needed to protect and promote the health of Korean women and girls".

SOURCE: Globalization and Health

Globalization and Health is an open access, peer-reviewed, online journal that provides an international forum for high quality original research, knowledge sharing and debate on the topic of globalization and its effects on health, both positive and negative.

Labels: smoking, tobacco, women

An ongoing battle in my marriage stems from my perception of myself; and sometimes vice versa. I know we're not the only couple like this, but somehow that doesn't help things does it?

This evening on msn.com there is an article about how men love a woman's body even if they don't love it.

Christine M. Coppa writes, "Tall, short, plump or petite, one thing is universal—no matter what a woman’s shape, there’s a man out there who’ll appreciate it! To prove our point, listen to what these guys have to say, and feel your confidence soar… no matter what your body type."

She goes on to share the opinions of several men. One guy talks about his plus-size wife and how it is a "plus" in every sense of the word. I'm not condoning being overweight because there are health concerns when you become obese, however, I do think it is wonderful to know a man feels that way about his wife.

I know my husband thinks I'm attractive. But I dislike my appearance so much that when he compliments me I'm almost turned off. Why am I this way? If someone tells me I am hot or pretty or whatever, why do I cringe?

Well the article doesn't dabble in crazy wives who have low self-esteem, but it does have many super sweet opinions from several different men. To the girls they speak about, be sure to give them a little bit of loving tonight. =o)

SOURCE

Labels: men, self image, weight gain, women