Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


[EDITOR’S NOTE: This article originally appeared in the January 1979 issue of Mother Jones. It has not been textually altered in any way…thus, some of the facts and statements are now outdated.]

Poise, self-assurance, virility, masculine strength. That is what those male cigarette-ad models convey to us as they stroll city streets with ther women companions or round up cattle at the Marlboro Corral. Unlike most other corporations, cigarette companies have often chosen male models to tout their particular product. Whether this is to emphasize the robust flavor of the smokes, to associate cigarettes with virility or to inject a hint of subliminal phallicism, only the copy room knows for sure. But the end result is the same: the association of a butt in one’s mouth with the masculine ideal. However, there is a growing but little-publicized body of research that indicated the association between masculinity and smoking is just he opposite of what the ads imply: namely, a documented statistical connection between tobacco use and male impotence, lower testosterone count and sterility.

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

PLEASE—BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things it doesn’t like—which is most things that are true.

We’ll say it loud and clear: At Mother Jones, no one gets to tell us what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please do your part and help us reach our $150,000 membership goal by May 31.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate