SMOKING AMONG WOMEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19806, 23 May 1934, Page 4

SMOKING AMONG WOMEN

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald *’ Sir, —I should like to discuss briefly the question of smoking among women, raised by the South Canterbury Executive of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union on Frtlay. The first point to be made is that their remit is aimed at an effect, and not a cause; that is, the question slould not be whether it is unhygienic o: morally bad for women to smoke, but why they smoke. There are numerous possible replies to this query. They miy smoke (1) as a sedative for nerves (2) because it is fashionable, (3) as an assertion of independence aganst the restrictions on their freedom imposed by a man-made society. ?here’s a good deal of evidence of ar indirect kind to show that of these tie first is the most important reason, that women smoke because they feel the need of a sedative. This Ihould be fairly obvious to anyone wlo pauses to think of the large numbei of sedatives that are sold and used in great quantities to-day. from spros to weekly or bi-weekly seats at the cinema. The doctor who was rejorted by one member of the Executive as stating that there are many cases of nerves among girls, due to smokinf, should have reversed his statement and said that the smoking is due to nerves. What we have to ask now is why the need for sedatives has arisei: Two main reasons suggest themsel/es, each compounded of many parts. The first is the stress of modern life, Vhich for women has demanded a mich more complete severance from tie traditional modes of living and habits of thought, than it has done for men. The existence of the Women'. Division of the Farmers’ Union, by Wiich it is possible for women to influence the social conscience directly iistead of indirectly through their menolk as in the past, is one proof of i fact so self evident as to need no errDhasizing. But it, combined with the nultiplicity of interests and activities aifl the acceleration of life with it rapidly changing manners and morfls, exacts a heavier toll of nervous eitrgy than the simpler existence of thepast. The second reason is to be fouid in the personal difficulties which jeople experience in making mental and emotional adjustments to lif- in the modern world. These diffilulties are due to such social factors as the postponement of marriage, isually for economic reasons, the segfcgation of the sexes during adolescefce under

the post-primary system of education, and the general topsy-turvy conditions of moral and ethical sanctions arising from the findings of various branches of science and the effects of the Great War. The remit of the executive, therefore, seems to me futile, for, even if it were possible to prevent women from smoking and taking alcoholic drinks, the need for the sedative would still exist as strongly as before, and would find expression in otl f; ways no less undesirable. Only a reawakening of faith in life as a positive and vital force demanding the free and complete use of all socially-valuable powers of body and mind can remove that need. It would appear that something has been done towards removing it in Germany and Russia. It is for the women of such institutions as the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union and their medical “authorities” to find an equally effective, though not necessarily similar, regenerating force for us here. The passing of such remits may please those who pass them, but please no one else, except perhaps those at whom the remits were aimed, by giving their actions an enjoyable publicity.—l am, etc., PRACTEREA CENSEO. Timaru, May 21.