Where Are the Women Pipe Smokers?

[telescopes]

Pipe smoking. Of all of the things in this world that are male dominated, pipe smoking might take the crown. Why?

In my 40 odd years smoking a pipe, I have never met a serious pipe smoker who is a women. Yes, I have met women who smoked a pipe from time to time, but never recreationally and never in a manner that it added to their identity.

Why? I am sure there are many reasons why, but I wonder if one of them might be that it is a club with an identity and breaking into that club is harder than we imagine.

When a male pipe smoker posts something, it is literally quite unheard of to find someone posting on their physical appearance or various parts of their body. For instance, I have yet to read where someone has replied to @cosmicfolklore , "Hey, I like that billiard you are smoking, and by the way, I really dig how you brushed your hair. Do you always wear it that way?"

Similarly, I can't imagine someone replying to a post by @LotusEater , "Yeh, I dig the way you make sitting in a car smoking a pipe look so attractive. Do you always wear your beard that way?"

Okay, you get the point. Pipe smoking is by all stretches a male club. Yes, pipe smokers can jest quite a bit with each other - but rarely are solicitous commits offered on the appearance of the smoker or is there a sexualization of the smoker's appearance.

The bottom line is that increasing the number of women who smoke pipes, post about smoking a pipe, and feel comfortable posting about smoking a pipe with men who have way tooooo much time on their hands.... should be something we all applaud and support.

But what are your thoughts.

Women? Pipe Smoking.

Pipe smoking with women who are pipe smoking....

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Pipe smoking. Of all of the things in this world that are male dominated, pipe smoking might take the crown. Why?

In my 40 odd years smoking a pipe, I have never met a serious pipe smoker who is a women. Yes, I have met women who smoked a pipe from time to time, but never recreationally and never in a manner that it added to their identity.

Why? I am sure there are many reasons why, but I wonder if one of them might be that it is a club with an identity and breaking into that club is harder than we imagine.

When a male pipe smoker posts something, it is literally quite unheard of to find someone posting on their physical appearance or various parts of their body. For instance, I have yet to read where someone has replied to @cosmicfolklore , "Hey, I like that billiard you are smoking, and by the way, I really dig how you brushed your hair. Do you always wear it that way?"

Similarly, I can't imagine someone replying to a post by @LotusEater , "Yeh, I dig the way you make sitting in a car smoking a pipe look so attractive. Do you always wear your beard that way?"

Okay, you get the point. Pipe smoking is by all stretches a male club. Yes, pipe smokers can jest quite a bit with each other - but rarely are solicitous commits offered on the appearance of the smoker or is there a sexualization of the smoker's appearance.

The bottom line is that increasing the number of women who smoke pipes, post about smoking a pipe, and feel comfortable posting about smoking a pipe with men who have way tooooo much time on their hands.... should be something we all applaud and support.

But what are your thoughts.

Women? Pipe Smoking.

Pipe smoking with women who are pipe smoking....

Well, hell Telescope, you must have not been here for my pipesmoking in the pool pictures. One of the reasons guys give me such a hard time on here is because they’re jealous of how beautiful I am.

I asked Skip at the Briary one day, “ how many pipesmoking women do you see come in here?”
He said, “not a single one.”
He was at that very minute ringing up two women buying pipe tobacco. And, one more came in to buy bulk tobacco.
I said, “ you sure about that?”
I think women pipesmokers are just invisible to us. Thoughts like, ‘they’re buying that for their husband or a gift for dad.’ But, I’ve seen plenty of women in my days of being a lounge lizard at The Briary come in and buy tobacco or a pipe occasionally.

 

[telescopes]

Eagle Scout at 13 when you needed 24 merit badges, not 21. 1976 during the Bicentennial.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

For instance, I have yet to read where someone has replied to @cosmicfolklore , "Hey, I like that billiard you are smoking, and by the way, I really dig how you brushed your hair. Do you always wear it that way?"

That’s because half of us mofos ain’t got hair. ? Myself included!

As for women pipe smokers, and in particular, forum members, I’d like to see more join. I’ve seen a few on here. They do seem to come and go, though. I’d like to think we don’t run them off. I’d hate it if I knew I had any part in making anyone feel uncomfortable to be here, male or female. I admire the ladies that stick around and are willing to put up with us, even if it’s just for a while. In general though, I think it’s just a habit that draws more men than women, hence the one-sidedness here. ?‍

 

[telescopes]

Well, hell Telescope, you must have not been here for my pipesmoking in the pool pictures. One of the reasons guys give me such a hard time on here is because they’re jealous of how beautiful I am.

I asked Skip at the Briary one day, “ how many pipesmoking women do you see come in here?”
He said, “not a single one.”
He was at that very minute ringing up two women buying pipe tobacco. And, one more came in to buy bulk tobacco.
I said, “ you sure about that?”
I think women pipesmokers are just invisible to us. Thoughts like, ‘they’re buying that for their husband or a gift for dad.’ But, I’ve seen plenty of women in my days of being a lounge lizard at The Briary come in and buy tobacco or a pipe occasionally.

I suspect you may be right but why won’t they make themselves known?

 

[telescopes]

I challenge the forum to set a goal of adding two women pipe smokers a month to the membership. Members who stay around for at least a year and add to the conversation. If pipe smoking is to survive, women must be a part of the solution.

 

[Country Bladesmith]

I suspect you may be right but why won’t they make themselves known?

Most probably are just trying to avoid unwanted male attention. That’d be my guess anyway.

 

[bullet08]

Well, hell Telescope, you must have not been here for my pipesmoking in the pool pictures. One of the reasons guys give me such a hard time on here is because they’re jealous of how beautiful I am.

I asked Skip at the Briary one day, “ how many pipesmoking women do you see come in here?”
He said, “not a single one.”
He was at that very minute ringing up two women buying pipe tobacco. And, one more came in to buy bulk tobacco.
I said, “ you sure about that?”
I think women pipesmokers are just invisible to us. Thoughts like, ‘they’re buying that for their husband or a gift for dad.’ But, I’ve seen plenty of women in my days of being a lounge lizard at The Briary come in and buy tobacco or a pipe occasionally.

Do they stay and shoot breeze with fellas? Or they leave? Maybe they just don't care for the topics being discussed.

 

[bayareabriar]

I really like how your pipe compliments your beer, and gun.

 

[telescopes]

Most probably are just trying to avoid unwanted male attention. That’d be my guess anyway.

I think you might be right. That was my thought, anyway.

 

[LotusEater]

I really like how your pipe compliments your beer, and gun.

This is Pure gold^^^

 

[Servant King]

My wife enjoys a cigarillo when I have my weekly pipe, and occasionally will sample a puff or two of what I'm smoking. She likes it alright, but deems the entire piping "process" a drag (I believe her exact words for it were "a rigamarole"), and far too involved for her liking. The OP has me thinking about this now: I wonder how many other women are likewise put off by the elaborate nature of the process, and might in fact be into it otherwise. Would more women smoke pipes if it was all loaded up and ready to go for them, obviating the need to concern themselves with all the steps of "the ritual?" Just a thought. By the way, I'm sure there are no shortage of men on this forum who would gladly fill this role for a lady, especially if it meant they might have a mortise for their tenon afterward...

Sorry. Couldn't resist. ?

 

[anotherbob]

Pipe smoking. Of all of the things in this world that are male dominated, pipe smoking might take the crown. Why?

In my 40 odd years smoking a pipe, I have never met a serious pipe smoker who is a women. Yes, I have met women who smoked a pipe from time to time, but never recreationally and never in a manner that it added to their identity.

Why? I am sure there are many reasons why, but I wonder if one of them might be that it is a club with an identity and breaking into that club is harder than we imagine.

When a male pipe smoker posts something, it is literally quite unheard of to find someone posting on their physical appearance or various parts of their body. For instance, I have yet to read where someone has replied to @cosmicfolklore , "Hey, I like that billiard you are smoking, and by the way, I really dig how you brushed your hair. Do you always wear it that way?"

Similarly, I can't imagine someone replying to a post by @LotusEater , "Yeh, I dig the way you make sitting in a car smoking a pipe look so attractive. Do you always wear your beard that way?"

Okay, you get the point. Pipe smoking is by all stretches a male club. Yes, pipe smokers can jest quite a bit with each other - but rarely are solicitous commits offered on the appearance of the smoker or is there a sexualization of the smoker's appearance.

The bottom line is that increasing the number of women who smoke pipes, post about smoking a pipe, and feel comfortable posting about smoking a pipe with men who have way tooooo much time on their hands.... should be something we all applaud and support.

But what are your thoughts.

Women? Pipe Smoking.

Pipe smoking with women who are pipe smoking....

I think there is a certain amount of hold of certain people against woman smoking. I personally avoided pipe forums for a long time because until here I'd always run across gate keepers who would tell us who should and shouldn't smoke a pipe. You know the kind of guy that says if you don't have a willy and don't smoke latakia you're not a real pipe smoker. I also think that most of the girls I've known who smoke pipes for whatever reason mostly keep it to themselves. I assume there are a variety of social pressure and b.s. behind that. But it's just an assumption so don't take it to the bank.
Interestingly I have gotten a few comments recently about how attractive the way I smoke a pipe is. My reaction was polite confusion by the way.
Also it's kind of tricky breaking into pipes. One often either chugs through it burning their tongue and proving their persistence or has some type of mentor to at the least watch. Add to the fact smoking was considered a male thing for a long time and pipe smoking in many ways is still more of an echo of times past.
I think we need a broader demographic make up to keep pipe smoking active. So I think we need woman smoking and visibly so. Otherwise before too long the money will dry up.

 

[anotherbob]

My wife enjoys a cigarillo when I have my weekly pipe, and occasionally will sample a puff or two of what I'm smoking. She likes it alright, but deems the entire piping "process" a drag (I believe her exact words for it were "a rigamarole"), and far too involved for her liking. The OP has me thinking about this now: I wonder how many other women are likewise put off by the elaborate nature of the process, and might in fact be into it otherwise. Would more women smoke pipes if it was all loaded up and ready to go for them, obviating the need to concern themselves with all the steps of "the ritual?" Just a thought. By the way, I'm sure there are no shortage of men on this forum who would gladly fill this role for a lady, especially if it meant they might have a mortise for their tenon afterward...

Sorry. Couldn't resist. ?

I think that says a lot at the end. The guys who helped me along with pipe smoking didn't ever have an agenda beyond sharing the joy of pipes. If they did that might have made the whole experience that much more tedious.

 

[captainsousie]

This is a debate on every forum that is "male dominated" that I have seen. Bass players. Tuba players. LS engines. Weaving...oh wait that was only male dominated until the 19th century.

Most of the time we males can be hostile in ways that we do not necessarily realize. (Complimenting looks rather than knowledge or, in this case pipes specifically with a direct reference to the gender of the smoker.) Make fun as you wish but often we don't realize how our "compliments" come across.

Finally, many have been run off due to private messages that are less than...dare I say it...gentlemanly.

 

[Servant King]

This is a debate on every forum that is "male dominated" that I have seen. Bass players. Tuba players. LS engines. Weaving...oh wait that was only male dominated until the 19th century.

Most of the time we males can be hostile in ways that we do not necessarily realize. (Complimenting looks rather than knowledge or, in this case pipes specifically with a direct reference to the gender of the smoker.) Make fun as you wish but often we don't realize how our "compliments" come across.

Finally, many have been run off due to private messages that are less than...dare I say it...gentlemanly.

You just gave me a great idea for a Craigslist ad: Bass player wanted (no tubas!)

 

[telescopes]

For the record, this forum is a great place and full of decent men who treat each other amazingly respectfully, given this is the internet. I mentioned for fun a few of our members in my opening post - each of whom are positive role models for pipe smokers. I hope I am clear in my intent. I certainly don’t wish to imbue any negativity on any forum members or the forum itself. My question is a serious one, humor is Important to any conversation.

 

[captainsousie]

Bloody hell! Women are put off by "the process" and would do better if we just loaded the pipe for them? I truly hope that was a joke...so does my wife. Yup, women are not able to understand complex processes. ?

 

[anotherbob]

Finally, many have been run off due to private messages that are less than...dare I say it...gentlemanly.

That is what I've seen far too often to be honest. The stuff on the surface only adds to the pile of shit. I've gotten enough pm explaining the reason for not staying on other forums. I guess I'll just put this out there, anyone doing unwanted sneaky messaging is not only being a bit of a bore but also damaging the vitality of pipe smoking. No they're not ruining it, but weakening it and making it more vulnerable to other threats. For example if more people took up pipe smoking it would be harder to lump it in with the same legislation that we're all worried about now.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Why the hell do you guys think there aren’t girls here?
Just because they don’t have booby pics in their avatar or have a forum name like “Alice” doesn’t mean that a few of these ambiguous avatars and androgynous screen nakes aren’t female. I happen to know that two long time members with androgynous profiles are girls, and I chuckle when I see them post a masculine comment, knowing they’re jerking some chains, ha ha. But, someone sees a turtle or a plant in a profile and assume it’s a guy, because it’s a gender role thing.

I was at a seminar where a writer read, “the old man hobbled down the railroad tracks.” Then he asked is what color the old man was. Discussion spun about, and we learned that unless we are told specifically, we assume the characters are like us…. Usually white, male, in the 50’s-60’s. We just assume this.