Between tradition and modernity

Evolving attitudes toward female smoking in Palestine

Bibliographic Data

ID15414579
AuthorsBilal Hamamra (0000-0003-4375-0293, An-Najah National University, corresponding author), Ekrema Shehab (0000-0002-5624-0455, An-Najah National University), Zaina Mahajneh (An-Najah National University), Nancy Zabadi (An-Najah National University), Rania Sowan (An-Najah National University)
Year2025
Pages1-20
Publication date2025-07-09
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1533-2640 • E-ISSN: 1533-2659
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15332640.2025.2531329
PMID40632663
OpenAlexW4412123763
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited40

Female smoking in many Arab countries has historically encountered strong cultural prohibitions, yet evidence suggests growing acceptance under conditions of urbanization and shifting gender norms. This study examines attitudes toward female smoking among individuals affiliated with Palestinian universities through semi-structured Zoom interviews with 50 participants (23 men, 27 women) from universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Using qualitative thematic analysis, we identified six superordinate themes: cultural shifts, family relations, health and psychological factors, religious and moral debates, media portrayals, and pathways toward support. Findings reveal that younger urban women often perceive waterpipe smoking as more socially permissible than cigarettes, whereas more traditional views persist even within academic communities. Participants noted that family tensions, persistent double standards, and concerns about "honor" sometimes lead women to smoke covertly. They also highlighted the need for empathy-based interventions that address both social stigma and mental health challenges. This study enriches regional literature on female smoking by demonstrating how tobacco use can function as a coping mechanism and a contested emblem of autonomy among university communities in Palestine

Ancient history · Cigarette smoking · Modernity · Palestine · Political science · Sociology · Gender Studies · History · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Migration, Refugees, and Integration · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Internal Medicine

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