Meanness to smokers? Why are we more accepting of men smoking than women?

For example female celebrities who smoke get a lot of flack for it, but when Eric Clapton lights one up in a concert, everyone still thinks he's the greatest. (And of course, he is!) I don't think we should be mean to smokers (what's the point they can't smoke around us anyway?) I think people need to take a step back and realize that the last thing smokers need is more stress. I think a lot of them, deep down, would like to quit.