Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes

J Rugkasa, O Kennedy, M Barton, P Abaunza, M Treacy, Barbara J. Stewart-Knox

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    22 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Health promotion, with its concern with empowerment and autonomy, must recognize the agency of its target population. Based on 85 in-depth interviews with 10- to 11-year-old children throughout Northern Ireland, this paper argues that it is necessary to focus on the social relations of children if we are to understand and prevent childhood smoking. Addressing the complex issue of childhood agency, it is argued that regardless of various restrictions to their choices, children can act intentionally in constructing their identities, Instead of viewing the smoking children as communicating with the adult world, we focus on smoking as negotiation of status within the children's culture. Such negotiations utilize symbolism derived from and shared with the 'adult world'. It is important that those analyzing children's lives understand children's ideas and behaviour on their own terms. We must make sure that the very concepts in which the children's experiences are put are appropriate ones. It is suggested that the metaphor 'rite of passage' and terminology such as peer 'pressure' versus adult 'influence', commonly used to analyse the children's smoking behaviour, may actually conceal important aspects of childhood agency.
    LanguageEnglish
    Pages131-142
    JournalHealth Education Research
    Volume16
    Issue number2
    Publication statusPublished - 2001

    Fingerprint

    symbolism
    Tobacco Products
    smoking
    Smoking
    Communication
    communication
    Negotiating
    Child Behavior
    childhood
    Northern Ireland
    Metaphor
    Health Services Needs and Demand
    Symbolism
    Health Promotion
    Terminology
    ritual
    health promotion
    technical language
    Social Relations
    Interviews

    Cite this

    Rugkasa, J., Kennedy, O., Barton, M., Abaunza, P., Treacy, M., & Stewart-Knox, B. J. (2001). Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes. Health Education Research, 16(2), 131-142.
    Rugkasa, J ; Kennedy, O ; Barton, M ; Abaunza, P ; Treacy, M ; Stewart-Knox, Barbara J. / Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes. In: Health Education Research. 2001 ; Vol. 16, No. 2. pp. 131-142.
    @article{8a25798b990f49378efee934cea5ba96,
    title = "Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes",
    abstract = "Health promotion, with its concern with empowerment and autonomy, must recognize the agency of its target population. Based on 85 in-depth interviews with 10- to 11-year-old children throughout Northern Ireland, this paper argues that it is necessary to focus on the social relations of children if we are to understand and prevent childhood smoking. Addressing the complex issue of childhood agency, it is argued that regardless of various restrictions to their choices, children can act intentionally in constructing their identities, Instead of viewing the smoking children as communicating with the adult world, we focus on smoking as negotiation of status within the children's culture. Such negotiations utilize symbolism derived from and shared with the 'adult world'. It is important that those analyzing children's lives understand children's ideas and behaviour on their own terms. We must make sure that the very concepts in which the children's experiences are put are appropriate ones. It is suggested that the metaphor 'rite of passage' and terminology such as peer 'pressure' versus adult 'influence', commonly used to analyse the children's smoking behaviour, may actually conceal important aspects of childhood agency.",
    author = "J Rugkasa and O Kennedy and M Barton and P Abaunza and M Treacy and Stewart-Knox, {Barbara J.}",
    year = "2001",
    language = "English",
    volume = "16",
    pages = "131--142",
    journal = "Health Education Research",
    issn = "0268-1153",
    number = "2",

    }

    Rugkasa, J, Kennedy, O, Barton, M, Abaunza, P, Treacy, M & Stewart-Knox, BJ 2001, 'Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes', Health Education Research, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 131-142.

    Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes. / Rugkasa, J; Kennedy, O; Barton, M; Abaunza, P; Treacy, M; Stewart-Knox, Barbara J.

    In: Health Education Research, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2001, p. 131-142.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    TY - JOUR

    T1 - Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes

    AU - Rugkasa, J

    AU - Kennedy, O

    AU - Barton, M

    AU - Abaunza, P

    AU - Treacy, M

    AU - Stewart-Knox, Barbara J.

    PY - 2001

    Y1 - 2001

    N2 - Health promotion, with its concern with empowerment and autonomy, must recognize the agency of its target population. Based on 85 in-depth interviews with 10- to 11-year-old children throughout Northern Ireland, this paper argues that it is necessary to focus on the social relations of children if we are to understand and prevent childhood smoking. Addressing the complex issue of childhood agency, it is argued that regardless of various restrictions to their choices, children can act intentionally in constructing their identities, Instead of viewing the smoking children as communicating with the adult world, we focus on smoking as negotiation of status within the children's culture. Such negotiations utilize symbolism derived from and shared with the 'adult world'. It is important that those analyzing children's lives understand children's ideas and behaviour on their own terms. We must make sure that the very concepts in which the children's experiences are put are appropriate ones. It is suggested that the metaphor 'rite of passage' and terminology such as peer 'pressure' versus adult 'influence', commonly used to analyse the children's smoking behaviour, may actually conceal important aspects of childhood agency.

    AB - Health promotion, with its concern with empowerment and autonomy, must recognize the agency of its target population. Based on 85 in-depth interviews with 10- to 11-year-old children throughout Northern Ireland, this paper argues that it is necessary to focus on the social relations of children if we are to understand and prevent childhood smoking. Addressing the complex issue of childhood agency, it is argued that regardless of various restrictions to their choices, children can act intentionally in constructing their identities, Instead of viewing the smoking children as communicating with the adult world, we focus on smoking as negotiation of status within the children's culture. Such negotiations utilize symbolism derived from and shared with the 'adult world'. It is important that those analyzing children's lives understand children's ideas and behaviour on their own terms. We must make sure that the very concepts in which the children's experiences are put are appropriate ones. It is suggested that the metaphor 'rite of passage' and terminology such as peer 'pressure' versus adult 'influence', commonly used to analyse the children's smoking behaviour, may actually conceal important aspects of childhood agency.

    M3 - Article

    VL - 16

    SP - 131

    EP - 142

    JO - Health Education Research

    T2 - Health Education Research

    JF - Health Education Research

    SN - 0268-1153

    IS - 2

    ER -

    Rugkasa J, Kennedy O, Barton M, Abaunza P, Treacy M, Stewart-Knox BJ. Smoking and symbolism: children, communication and cigarettes. Health Education Research. 2001;16(2):131-142.

    Access to Document