The search for equality: representations of the smoking act among adolescent women

Authors

  • J. Adriana Sánchez Martínez Autonomous University of Querétaro; Nursing School
  • Cléa Regina de Oliveira Ribeiro WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000700022

Keywords:

smoking, women, adolescent

Abstract

This study aimed to discover the representations of the smoking habit in both non-smoking and smoking female adolescents from a high school in Querétaro, Mexico. It is a qualitative research, carried out with 14 female adolescents in 2005. A semi-structured interview and a socioeconomic survey were used to collect data. Results evidenced adolescents know the biomedical discourse, which proposes that smoking causes serious consequences to health. However, there are other symbolic reasons that influence its use such as the search for equality and image, since they think men find smoking women more attractive and mature. Peer pressure represents an important factor for women to smoke by validating its practice and minimizing its effects to the body.

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Published

2008-08-01

Issue

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

The search for equality: representations of the smoking act among adolescent women. (2008). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 16(spe), 640-645. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-11692008000700022