On the other hand, national survey data today suggest that women are quitting at rates similar to or even higher than men. And clinical guidelines suggest that the same smoking cessation methods should be used for women and men. For some subgroups of women, like pregnant women, uniquely targeted approaches make sense. Let's face it, it's hard for both women and men to quit smoking, but at least now there is plenty of social support for doing so plus some very effective pharmacotherapies, like the nicotine patch, gum, inhalers, bupropion, and so on. The higher rates for women with less education may be a reflection of less knowledge about the health effects of smoking.
Smoking is interesting, though, in that it used to be common among people with more education.
Among women it was probably first adopted by women in the social vanguard, well educated women who were fighting against double standards in our society. My wife and I are both former smokers. We quit at about the same time right after we were married 11 years ago. While I still occasionally consider a cigarette, my wife admitedly struggles routinely with the thought of lighting up and has had about a half dozen relapses over the years. This seems to also be true among her ex-smoking friends.