Where there is Smoke, there is Fire: Young Female Smokers at a Tertiary Institute

Abstract

Smoking emerges as one leading link to many health issues and is imbricated with both the economics of povertt; as well as affluence. Smoking among the populations of young Black African females appears to be on the increase in the country, and is likewise reflected by the increasing numbers of smokers among the female student cohort at the UniversihJ ofKwaZuluNatal, South Africa. There have hmvever, been more studies done on male tobacco consumph'on, and arguably less attention has been paid on girl and women smokers, especially in low middle income countries. There has also been less work done in the context of female smokers in tertian; institutes. Given the multiple reproductive health implications for women, research among women smokers is thus critical. This focus piece in turn draws from an exploraton; study with a small sample of Black African female students at a tertiary institute who are smokers. Working through tlze heuristic notion of'urbanicity' (Wiiliams et al. 2008) as a descriptor for transitioningfrom rural to urban spaces, the paper probes how female students rationalize their use and acceptance of smoking. Through the use of narrative analysis, initial findings suggest that the young females hold multiple insecurities around their body image, acceptance and social integration mzd further reveal that there are (perceived) benefits of enhancement in image and status on the part of the smoker. Tlzis low self-esteem and need for enhancing self-image surfaced among the female smokers coming from rural or peri-urban backgrounds and offer situated complexities around the ontogeny of smoking amongst this group of young women.