RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Smoking, social class, and gender: what can public health learn from the tobacco industry about disparities in smoking? JF Tobacco Control JO Tob Control FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 115 OP 120 DO 10.1136/tc.2003.006098 VO 13 IS 2 A1 E M Barbeau A1 A Leavy-Sperounis A1 E D Balbach YR 2004 UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/13/2/115.abstract AB Objective: To discover how the tobacco industry considers social class and gender in its efforts to market cigarettes in the USA, particularly to socially disadvantaged young women. Methods: A systematic on-line search of tobacco industry documents using selected keywords was conducted, and epidemiological data on smoking rates reviewed. Results: The two largest cigarette manufacturers in the USA consider “working class” young adults to be a critical market segment to promote growth of key brands. Through their own market research, these companies discovered that socially disadvantaged young women do not necessarily desire a “feminine” cigarette brand. Conclusions: Considering the tobacco industry’s efforts, alongside the persistent and growing disparities in cigarette smoking by social class, and the narrowing of differences in smoking by gender, it is concluded that additional tobacco control resources ought to be directed toward working class women.