Number of women smokers rises
A report drafted by the anti-smoking program and conducted by the Ministry of Health states that the number of women shisha smokers are estimated at 3.7 percent with 16 percent of female students having tried smoking, 11 percent using tobacco, 9.9 percent using tobacco products and 7.2 percent smokers. The report revealed that there is an increase in the number of teenage smokers among Saudi females. Azeezh Nofal, a journalist, said the trend of shisha smoking has increased among Saudi girls in the past five years, adding that Saudi women usually don't smoke among family members. Most women shisha smokers admitted that they smoked as a form of relaxation after work, Kazinform refers to the Arab News. Aesha Al-Omari said she smokes shisha with a number of friends and finds it hard to give up the habit. Her husband has also given in to her wishes to continue smoking, she said. Amer Ali, owner of a shisha store, said many women come to his store to buy different kinds of flavored shisha such as watermelons, gum and strawberries. The price of Narjeela, a particularly popular aroma, ranges between SR200-SR1000, he said. Experts blame social media sites for increased number of women. Dr. Ali Zaeiri, a consultant and psychologist at Jeddah's Al-Nakheel center, said women generally smoke as a sign of prestige and social status. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia ranks fifth globally with 5.7 percent women smokers, the highest amongst the GCC countries. Sabbah Zahhar, a social expert in Asir's Saudi German hospital, said women's conduct regarding shisha smoking springs from their desire to rebel against convention and cultural norms. She said that some girls smoke shisha as a way to prove gender equality in a society where males dominate all aspects of life. Zahhar also confirmed that unemployment and the emotional vacuum resulting from broken marriages and dysfunctional families pushed women to smoke.