ahh but the cigarette itself isnt pink...or makes a little tune when you inhale...camels got a long way to go to be up there with japans womens cigarettes

No offence to any smokers, but here goes.

I really couldn’t think any less of cigarette companies to begin with, or their customers. The only thing I can bring to mind on this is that it is just another reason to quit smoking (in this case for women). If paying these companies to decrease your life span (when there are other ways to do it for free) isn’t crazy enough, now you can buy the all new patronising female theme cigarettes to cough away your life.

I suspect they're going to be facing a trademark lawsuit from the makers of Chanel No. 5. Seriously.

I saw these the other day at lunch, and the following conversation occured:

"They're pink cigarettes? Wouldn't people be worried about, like, the dyes and stuff they put into the paper?"
"...no. No, I don't think so."

I have seen actual pink cigarettes before with gold around the filter, even more girly than this. The box was pink and sparkly, and I think they were vanilla flavored. Called Dream or something silly.

Bex: Where did you find those? I don't even smoke, but I must own a pack of the most patronizing cigarettes ever.

I think they're accidentally hilarious--they're branding femininity and the desirability of tobacco *again*, and yet I don't know a single who man who smokes Virginia Slims much less this train wreck!

I guess the cancer will be pink too

And quaintly froufrou.

What's almost as bad as this is that Bust has started putting tobacco ads in their magazine. If I wanted to see shit like that, PLUS Gwen Stefani on the cover, I would read Cosmo.
Has Debbie Stoller lost her marbles?

Hmm. If they're marketing to women I'm not sure they're doing a good job since my male friend bought some and seems to like them. But to add to the patronizing with those, the warning label is different on them too. Instead of the usual "these are cancer sticks" type of warning, they warn you about smoking while pregnant instead. (Which confused my friend greatly, not knowing that they were supposed to be "girl" cigarettes.)

Ah crap. Only one "instead" in the sentence about the warning labels. Serves me right for not previewing.

Am I a bad feminist for totally wanting a pack of those? I know, patronizing, supporting a terrible habit - but they remind me of my beloved Sobranies (sp?) that you can't get in Canada and that were rainbow coloured with gold filters... There just isn't that sort of Tobacco related decadence up here...

Kalisti!: My sister's a smoker, she got them from a friend. A bit of Googling and I found them: "Pink Dreams" http://www.oklahoma-outlet.com/Productdetails.aspx/Cigarettes/DreamsCigarettes/opt/product/7053/store/2/category/98/campaign/0

lilcollegegirl, if it's the pregnancy warning that makes them "girl" cigarettes, then my cloves must also be for girls. Those are the only warnings I ever seem to get. Either that, or I keep winning the warning lottery.

Still, I can't think of anything dumber than trying to market "girl" cigarettes in the first place. All the smokers I know smoke the cigs that taste best to them. The color of the box or the cigarette doesn't really enter into it.

Unless they give off a delightful fragrance reminiscent of Chanel as well, I think I'll still abstain, thanks.

Reading about this, I'm reminded of the history of Marlboro cigarettes.

Yes, Marlboro.

It turns out that Marlboro was originally marketed as a women's brand -- complete with a red tip so it won't ruin "your ruby lips" (referring to lipstick). And calling Marlboros "mild as may".

Thing is, the campaign alienated men who didn't want a "women's" cigarette. So Marlboro's marketers turned the course of the advertising 180 degrees -- going from a "women's" cigarette to the "manliest" of "manly" cigarettes, emblemized most of all with the Marlboro Man. Some of those who played Marlboro Men died from smoking-related diseases:

http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/marlboro.htm

This change in advertising direction didn't seem to alienate women because of the power factor -- yes, smoke these and YOU TOO can enjoy the power and ruggedness that men enjoy. :-/

I could see this expanding into a whole line of nicoderm patches, too. The perfect pink patch to accessorize your look! Sigh...

I can't help but wonder if these cost more than regular cigarettes? That would be in keeping with the standard "girlification" process (often seen in razors, deoodorant, etc)--color it pink, add some pictures of hearts and/or flowers, spray on some perfume, double the price, and Voila! For women only!

I've yet to meet a female smoker who actually bothered with any of the "femme" cigs, save one who bought Virginia Slims because she thought they were hilarious.

I could see gay men buying these, but I'm not sure why...

Speaking of the history of the Marlboro marketing campaign, may I submit a book recommendation:

Ashes to Ashes by Richard Kluger

Fascinating history of the tobacco industry. Won the Pulitzer in '97, in fact. I couldn't put it down.

Vervain, I spent about a year working in a convenience store, and the *only* customers who bought Virginia Slims, et al were gay men! (This was in central PA, which isn't exactly a hotbed of alternative lifestyles, either.) As for these, what can I say besides "barf"?

I wonder how long it'll be before I see some of those around campus! (The *female* CEO of Reynolds American spoke here last fall, and the introduction was "Booze, makeup and cigarettes... in other words, a perfect fit [for this college]!")

Interesting that they would do something like that, though. Especially when there are more and more anti-smoking laws going up.

Because nothing says "subtle cue" like hot-pink fuschia.

Bex, thank you--that is outstanding. Maybe not $17 outstanding, but still, my day is made just having seen that.

Furthermore, I apologize for typing "who man" instead of "woman" in my earlier comment. I'm not even sure how I made that typo and I'm scared to look for more up there, but I promise from now on no more comments before my morning coffee.

"...and yet I don't know a single who man who smokes Virginia Slims..."

My dad does.

Oops, nevermind.

Isn't there supposed to be a warning, "Smoking kills," in letters large enough that they could be read in a picture that size?

Aha, here's a pic of Pink Dreams with the pink and gold foil cigarette itself. Girls love pink and sparkly and gold! It's what Barbie would smoke!

Not to spew obscenity into the net, but:

I'm so fucking sick of pink. Get over it. Not every girl likes pink. I don't think advertisers will ever get that.

Not that I want to buy any awesome green ciggarettes or anything, but come on now, can't a girl have some variety?

Aha, here's a pic of Pink Dreams ...

And remember, girls: if you're too stupid to tell what color it is, it says "PINK" on the side of each cigarette.

Ingeniously subtle, no?

Actually, most of the warnings on cigarette packs are directed toward pregnant women. They wouldn't want to touch on something everybody didn't already know.

I agree with jrav... color-coded gendered items are obnoxious. A lot of women (myself included) even dislike the color.
However, my boyfriend's favorite clothing store is the Pink store. And yes, their boxes and bags are pink. He carries them without shame- as he should. :-)

http://www.thomaspink.co.uk/us/

Remember: pink is a shade of red, and we all know what red stands for.

Ah. I see. I don't smoke so I didn't know that a lot of them had the same warning. Sorry.