"Come on baby, don't say maybe" and other reactions women smokers in India get

Women who smoke are as normal as men who do. Photo Courtesy: YouTube/YRFFilms

Smoking is injurious to health no matter who is does it. You see, cancer doesn't discriminate against people on the basis of gender. But, society does.

Haven't we walked across hundreds of men smoking in public without batting an eyelid? But, when it comes to women, most people just can't help but ogle. And unfortunately, that's one of the most decent reactions. Mostly women who smoke are used to much worse. Here are a few reactions that most women smokers witness:

Smoking Makes You A Slut
What do you call a man who smokes? A man. And what do you call a woman who smokes? Well, a slut! Somehow, cigarettes have the tendency to define character. It doesn't matter if a woman has a heart of gold, but she is found smoking publicly, she probably is a whore.

OMG! Is That An Alien?
People find women smokers a different species altogether. And more often than, the surprise is pretty apparent on their faces. They giggle, stare, and whisper amongst each other as if they have just spotted Jadoo from Koi Mil Gaya. The woman might look pretty normal in real life, but in their eyes she is as weird as any other alien.

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Smoking is Equal to Zero Sanskar
Smoking is inversely proportional to the sanskars given to you by your family. If you smoke, you are as devoid of cultural values as Mars is of life. And the worst part is that most people while commenting on women smokers have the tendency of dissing their parents. For starters, no you can't blame the parents. Women are free thinking adults who are free to take their own decisions.

Come On Baby, Don't Say Maybe
If it's not bad enough already that people consider women who smoke to be easy, some men have the audacity to assume that these women are dying to bed them. How can puffing on a cigarette butt turn any woman into a nymphomaniac? Smoking only releases nicotine, it no way in hell ignites any form of sex craving.

Think About Your Future Kids
It's common knowledge that smoking is really not good for health and especially if you are trying to conceive. Now, some women do give up smoking when they begin trying but bearing children is not the only goal they have in life. However, concerned friends and at times even strangers are worried about the future kids, who will ultimately land in the smoke-polluted womb.