NO SMOKING: Is stigmatizing smokers effective?

Photo of a middle-aged woman smoking. In most societies, smokers are often stigmatized.

Every day, around 10 in the morning, one notices conspicuous clouds of smoke around the public toilet on the end of Koinange Street that borders Holy Family Basilica. Approaching this Nairobi City Council facility, it becomes clear that the smoke billows from a pack of smokers crammed in the smoking kiosk around the public toilet. Like any other smokers in the world, smokers using this facility are aware of the contempt they now earn from the rest of the society.

Smokers have suffered stigmatization in most societies. Changing organizational policies that glorify non-smokers clearly discriminate against smokers. The justification for discriminating against smokers is that they are costly to maintain. Consequently, smoking is becoming increasingly unacceptable in most society. 

Researchers interested in studying the welfare of non-smokers have oftentimes concurred that this group of individuals suffer from undue stigmatization. Stigmatization against smokers has both positive and negative attributes related to the smoking behavior of smokers. 

In societies where the battles against cigarette manufacturers cannot yield fruits like in Kenya, the separation of smokers from the rest of the society is common. Contributing to this unacceptability are policies, social factors and stigmatization. Stigmatization is one of the forces behind reducing the acceptability of smoking in the society. Stigma against smokers entails the process of marginalization perpetrated by the society on smokers. 

According to the attribution theory, the society often forms negative perceptions about smokers. This is because smoking is in most cases a matter of personal choice. This is wrong. Understanding the drive to smoking as involving uncontrollable factors such as stress could change the perception of smokers by the society. Then the society fears smokers.

Fear about the effects of smoking on the non-smokers causes stigmatization against smokers. Policies in government and private institutions enhance stigmatization against smokers. Public institutions and private corporations condone anti-smoking employing policies. Power is critical in determining the extent of stigma amongst smokers. 

Businesses discriminate against smokers. An examination on the treatment of smoking employees, their perspectives and the application of philosophical perspectives would confirm. Business organizations perceive smokers as costly to the organizations in which they work. Insurance companies charge smokers higher premiums compared to their non-smoking counterparts.  This is not all.

Most firms have policies that discriminate against (hiring) smokers. Those hiring smokers restrict them from the company property. Who would risk having his documents and property set on fire? 

Misconceptions on lower performance rates for smokers are common in organizations. All these treatment culminate to unjust treatment of smokers in the workplace. Perspectives on smokers indicate that they undergo discrimination in their places of work. Smokers are realizing that they are victims of stigmatization. 

Social norms are equally critical in determining the level of stigmatization against smokers in the society. Disapproval of smoking by social groups contributes immensely to smoking stigma. Despite the shortcomings of stigmatization against smokers, this strategy can be instrumental in facilitating change in behavior.  

Stigmatization works in forcing smokers to quit the habit. This way, the smokers would be safe from discrimination in the society. However, stigmatization is not worth the celebration. Oftentimes, out of stigmatization, smokers can get ways of continuing with the smoking behavior. 

Risks of stigmatization are that smokers can end up becoming secretive or even withdrawing from the people. In light of the power and likelihood of stigmatization, administering tobacco control mechanisms should be cautious.  

Smokers are highly vulnerable to discrimination. Social norms, corporate policies and fears are amongst the factors that heighten stigmatization against smokers. To smokers, stigma can influence their quitting smoking. At the same time, it can backfire and result to a change in the smoking behavior. This informs the need for proper assessment of the mechanisms of dealing with smokers.