| Tobacco control in China, the world’s largest tobacco consumption country, is of great significance to global public health and welfare. Previous literature has demonstrated the necessity of understanding and cooperating with unique cultural norms, the peculiarly high men-women smoking ratio, and prevailing cigarette sharing and gifting custom, in achieving effective tobacco control in China. This qualitative study investigates the dynamics between gender, smoking behavior, and cigarette gifting in contemporary Chinese society utilizing semi-structured interviews and grounded theory methodology. The study explores the four symbolic meanings of smoking, uncovers the increase of sophisticated smokers, and searched for possible alternative gifts for cigarettes. Based on these findings, the study provided novel political implications, called for a more comprehensive measurement for tobacco control, and suggested healthier alternatives to reduce cigarette gifting. Overall, the research sheds light on the complex social and cultural factors influencing tobacco use in China, underscoring the importance of a culturally sensitive research approach to address the tobacco control issue in China. |
