During World War II, while men were at war, some women worked in factories where poor ventilation left them constantly breathing in harmful chemicals.2

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When the men returned, tobacco use skyrocketed—leaving women susceptible to second-hand smoke.3

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Numerous tobacco ads were developed to specifically target women with slogans that emphasized glamour and thinness.1

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Tobacco ads were incredibly successful and by 1973 the rate of 12-year-old girls who had started smoking increased by 110%.1

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Although the majority of women began smoking later than men, the gap between men and women who die from COPD has rapidly closed.1

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