The growth of cultural ideas towards gender roles and the evolving status of women is often closely linked to the history of women smoking cigars. However, you might be surprised to learn that the history of women smoking cigars goes back further than you might think.
- Early Historical Period: Social conventions of the 19th century dictated that women should not smoke in public, and cigar smoking was predominantly a male pastime. There were, nevertheless, some upper-class ladies who disregarded social norms and smoked cigars in private. There are images of women smoking cigars in literature and art from that era, frequently as a sign of disobedience or non-conformity.
- The Roaring Twenties: Significant social shifts occurred in the 1920s, and the “flapper”—a free-spirited, outspoken woman who defied convention—became popular. Women smoking cigars more openly increased during this time. In fact, there is a well-known picture of Greta Garbo and Mae West holding cigars that helped to normalize the perception of female smokers.
- Beyond World War II: During World War II, women took on roles that men had previously held in the home and at work. This change in society also affected ideas about what constitutes appropriate behavior for women. The 1940s and 1950s saw a rise in the number of women smoking cigars, a reflection of shifting gender relations as women became more economically independent.
- 1960s: As women demanded equality in a variety of spheres of life during the feminist movement of the 1960s and 1970s, smoking cigars was once again a sign of rebellion and a way to express their need for independence.
As cigar culture has continued to develop, more women have become involved in the tobacco industry. Cigar lounges, such as ours at Top Leaf Cigar Lounge, offer a place for both women and men to hang out and enjoy the art of cigar smoking. Stop by and see us today.