Social Debitage: An archaeological and social exploration of the patterns of improper cigarette butt disposal on a university campus
| dc.contributor.author | Tottman, Walker | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2020-08-28T18:37:26Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2020-08-28T18:37:26Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2020 | en_US |
| dc.date.issued | 2020-08-28 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Around the globe, trillions of cigarettes are improperly discarded into the environment every year. As the world’s most frequently littered item, and made with non-biodegradable materials and toxic chemicals, cigarette butt litter poses serious environmental concerns. Existing studies suggest both smokers and non-smokers espouse negative attitudes towards cigarette butts, and cigarette smokers are increasingly stigmatized. My research studies cigarette littering on the University of Victoria’s recently designated no-smoking campus, and asks: Are there spatial distribution patterns in cigarette butt littering related to features of the built environment? Additionally, does the seemingly innocuous activity of cigarette smoking provide deeper insight into social norms and attitudes around garbage and the environment? I collected approximately 8000 littered cigarette butts from the university campus, recording data on their location and condition. My findings indicate a high occurrence of non-designated smoking occurring within the campus, predominantly in areas that are conveniently located, provide shelter from the elements, have seating, and are well-obscured from outside view. Drawing from archaeological and social-cultural studies on waste and value, I argue social norms make the creation of trash illicit and stigmatized, and counterintuitively reinforce the improper smoking behaviours that create litter and pollution. Fostering open dialogues about the issue of cigarette butt littering, rather than marginalizing smokers, is a needed shift in mindset. | en_US |
| dc.description.reviewstatus | Reviewed | en_US |
| dc.description.scholarlevel | Undergraduate | en_US |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/1828/12051 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
| dc.subject | cigarette littering | en_US |
| dc.subject | garbage | en_US |
| dc.subject | social avoidance of waste | en_US |
| dc.subject | pollution | en_US |
| dc.subject | stigmatization | en_US |
| dc.subject | environmental protection | en_US |
| dc.subject.department | Department of Anthropology | |
| dc.title | Social Debitage: An archaeological and social exploration of the patterns of improper cigarette butt disposal on a university campus | en_US |
| dc.type | Honours thesis | en_US |