Women and the Pipe

We actually had a woman belong to our pipe club for a while.She was very knowledgeable about tobaccos and fit in as one of the guys.I can also tell you that famous pipe collector and well known writer on the subject Dr.Fred Hanna's wife also somkes a pipe.The practice may not be as odd/rare as it may seem.Personally I like it the same way I like a girl who smokes the occasional sigar.It's really kind of sexy...

Best,

D.Perry

The Sherlock Holmes Pipe Club of Boston... "Keeping The Smoking Lamp Lit Since 1991" www.shpcboston.org

Here's some decently attractive women reviewing pipes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr6IyI6eu9Q

Personally, I'd welcome any woman into the world of pipesmoking.  I don't think of pipesmoking as a men only sort of thing.  A woman with a pipe is sort of sexy.  There are even a few pipes made specifically for women and that feminine look.  Besides, I'd rather have a few women around then just stare at a bunch of hairy chested manly guys.

I think women smoking pipes and cigars is cool, it shows that they are unique and independant. I'd like to see more women taking up pipes and/or cigars rather than cigarettes. 

 Jake

I agree that it may appear unusual to find a female smoking a pipe, but that is just because you don't see it very often.  IMO, a lady smoking a pipe should not be looked at any differently than when one sees a guy smoking a pipe.

 Jay

If more of us pipe smokers looked like the four ladies doing that TV show, we would have less trouble with the antis!

Jay

I know it may seem strange Caydel, but women used to enjoy the pipe as much as men, that is, until the advent of cigars, and then cigarettes.  From the time when tobacco first arrived in the eastern hemispher, women smoked pipes.  Actually, my great-grandmother smoked a pipe and nothing else.  Recent history (the last 10 years or so) has seen a significant decline in female pipe smokers.  Some of this is due to how pipes are marketed, and some is due to cultural expectations of femininity, in my opinion. 

I personnally don't see anything wrong with it.  In fact, I think it should be encouraged, if for no other reason to make it a little more socially acceptable.  If more women smoked pipes, I would wager fewer business establishments would ban pipe and cigar smoking.  And it could only encourage more good-will toward the pipe smoker in general.

Matt

as a caveat to this statement, I am a college student and I am speaking about college students...but every once in a while when my friends and I get together for a pipe smoking evening, there are usually just as many females present as males, though I might comment that there is an interesting difference in pipe shape preference between the females and males of this group
cheers,
Josh

In Denmark, pipesmoking has been popular between both men and women back in the 60s and to an extent the 70s. For the most part, the pipe was preferred solely based on the high price of cigarettes and the low wages at the time. One has to get that tobacco, so why not go for a cheaper alternative.

My mother used to smoke the pipe back in the day. I have only seen her smoke the pipe once, though. After she and my father got better jobs, she quickly switched from the pipe to cigarettes.

I see no problem with a woman smoking the pipe. I know it's said to be something of a man thing, but hey I wouldn't mind a beautiful blonde bumming a bowlful from me.

--
Lars Wiberg aka slartie
http://southend.dk/

I am a 19 year old female pipe smoker and dont see any difference between men and women smoking a pipe. I would like to point out that I am far from being a femanist as most people think I do it for feminine equality. I dont really see the difference between a man and a womans enjoyment from smoking a pipe. As far as how it may or may not effect your attractiveness I think its irrelivant, I do it for enjoyment as im sure most men do rather than how it makes me appear.
Its not really something to be encouraged or discouraged its about thinking for yourself and doing what you want to do.

I don't care what your internal plumbing is ... if you smoke a pipe you belong here with us. Glad you chose to join us today! Now that you've jumped on board please post often!

Ok, now that the official welcome is out of the way ... you smoke a pipe but what kind of tobaccos do you enjoy? Me: I love VAs and Burley/VA blends. How 'bout you?

Err bad pun but a warm welcome, My daughter of 24 also smokes a pipe. When she was 2 or so she would contsantly have one of my pipes in her mouth. Eventually she stopped but I knew the day would eventually come where she picked up the pipe herself. She is an occassional smoker maybe 3 or 4 bowls a week and some weeks none. She lits up when the mood grabs her and studying is a favorite time. Why, she likes the taste of tobacco. Seems pretty simple to me.

women smoking pipes in common amongst the country people. It's a Xhosa tribal tradition. One sees women smoking long stemmed, church-warden-type pipes. Hasn't caught on with the urbanites. My approach to people (irrespecive of gender) smoking pipes is simple: the more, the merrier. Welcome Watchmaker.

And I don't see anything strange about it. However, they seem to like a bit lighter blends, like OGS or Astleys no 44....

I just like when ppl smoke a pipe, no matter the pipester's/pipestres's gender.

Watchmaker. It's always gratifying for me to see new smokers, an instance of hope for our declining numbers. A bit of caution, though; this forum can be unusual at times.

I am happily married to a non-smoker who supports my love of the pipe. I too, would encourage ladies to smoke. In fact, I rarely receive pipe smoking compliments from men. It's usually the ladies that comment, favorably! I offer my pipe to puff on, to ladies if they comment favorably in a social situation and sometimes they take me up on it. If I had women friends that smoked a pipe, I'd have instant popularity because of my blending skills and cupboard of 35 aromatic flavors! I could mix up whatever they wanted to try and that would be great fun.

Yes, women seem to like it somehow, perhaps the pipe warrants a certain amount of chest hair ?

And; Welcome, Watchmaker!

I forgot to greet you when writing my previous post here

Like I said earlier...I have a fair number of friends (College age) who are either smoke either cigars or pipes...been mostly my friend Eric and me who have introduced it to them...but it is nice to hang out and have a pipe and a pint...and it doesn't really seem to matter male or female...I mean historically it does seem like a male thing...but a churchwarden is about like that cigarette holder that Audrey Hepburn smoked...and you have to admit that was pretty sexy...soo...long story short...history might have the pipe world dominated mostly by men...but that doesn't mean that women can't or shouldn't enjoy pipes just like anyone else...and quite frankly it can be pretty attractive...

Cheers,

Josh

There have been a similar discussion about snus (dip tobacco) in sweden, should women use it or not ?

up here in the north it is a strong tradition among women to use the smokeless alternatives. Down south, and especially in the capital (fjollträsk, the poof (gay) swamp), it is considered unfeminine and unattractive.

ah well, if there is anything you could consider doing yourself, why keep it from the weaker sex ?

First, Welcome Aboard! A nineteen year old pipe smoker is the future of this hobby and lifestyle regardless of gender. A few questions: What made you pick up a pipe? How long have you been a pipe smoker? What is your tobacco of choice? Do you smoke cigarettes too?

Regarding women and pipes, it certainly is not conventional but hey, who's to say what's normal. If a man can enjoy a pipe why can't a woman? My mom used to tell me stories of her pipe smoking days back during WWII. Apparently cigarettes were in short supply as lots of them were going to our boys overseas. She said back then there was a huge market for "ladies pipes" They were often adorned with rhinestones and the like, kind of a fashion accessory/smoking implement.

As far as women dipping snuff, well...folks are going to do what folks do. Although I've only seen a few women in my life dip snuff, I always sort of found it disturbing to see a woman spit. I guess growing up in the south I always had a certain deference to women and spitting is just one of those things that class wise seem a bit beneath women (not unlike scratching of crotches and butts out in public). Men are allowed to do all of these things because, well, we're just not the most evolved gender.

Thank you for your view. Welcome to the forum!
Regards,
Dave

I see no problem with women smoking

Of course I do not have a problem with women smoking pipes. Nor do I think it is strange or weird. In my opinion, weird would be someone actually having a problem with it.

I guess a woman smoking pipes is just as much a freak as a man.

I don't really see what the issue would be.

Exactly. I think that women who smoke pipes are very alluring and are also independant thinkers. Bring 'em on!!

I'm really glad to see a lady posting on this board. In my neck of the woods, I'm one of the few pipesmokers around and there are no ladies that I know of smoking one. I did see a pretty lady in a red pants suit smoking a pipe at the St. Louis pipe show a few years ago and I thought it was great! Please post often, we'd love to hear your point of view.

Smokey

its hot.

There's a sceen in the movie Juno where the protagonist at least has a pipe in her mouth. She shows up on her boyfriends lawn in a yardsale chair and pipe to discuss their future.

I always thought that was kind of cool! I thought she looked pretty good with it. No actual smoke though.

-Ben

We all smoke a pipe for the enjoyment of it, Right? What makes pipesmoking less enjoyable to a woman than a man? Puff on Ladies!