We all use stereotypes. Every single one of us, every single day. For example, someone at a restaurant hands you something in glass that is liquid and perfectly clear, has no aroma and no fizz. You assume that it is water based on your stereotypes of the world. Some stereotypes are useful; some are harmful.

One particular stereotype out there concerns our hobby, my friends. For the purposes of context, take a look at this picture:

This is clearly a phenomenal photograph displaying a pipe smoker who has many stories to tell. However, it is also the image that most people get when they imagine pipe smokers. This is the pipe smoker stereotype, specifically a white man over the age of fifty-five (if only he would have had tweed on!). In fact, this stereotype was recently mentioned on a pipe forum that I frequent. Its validity was questioned, along with whether or not it was a helpful stereotype and, if not, what can be done about it.

This stereotype does not actively work towards changing the demographic of pipe smoking, which is a necessity if pipe smoking is to survive. What we need is a stereotype that moves us progressively forward.

In an attempt to break that stereotype, some websites have started displaying pictures of younger women smoking pipes, some professionally staged and others casual self-portraits. In fact, there is an entire blog devoted to this.

As a younger pipe smoker – despite meeting two out of three of the above mentioned features – I feel that I should do my part to reduce the prevalence of that stereotype. Also, I asked a number of people who have read my blog what they would like to see more of. The overwhelming answer? College age ladies smoking pipes.

I wanted to find a way to do both. But how? It would be easy to get my friends to puff on a pipe, but that would not be the same. I wanted to display a young lady who actually smoked a pipe and show her smoking and enjoying herself.

Thanks to this particular young woman, I get to kill two birds with one stone!

Allow me first to apologize for my not-so-fantastic photography skills. I can only assure you that the real life thing is much better looking that the photos reveal.

I also feel obligated to mention that all I did was take the pictures. I did not tell the model what to wear or how to pose, but rather to simply sit and enjoy her pipe. The photo session took place immediately after she returned from work at a Scottish pub (thus the plaid skirt).

Now, with no further ado, allow me to introduce our first model: Lauren Ewart, currently in her third year of majoring in English Literature and minoring in Psychology, who is smoking both an IMP Meerschaum (which some of you might recognize) and a Peterson Prince Churchwarden.

Lauren told me before the photo session started about how much she used to hate tobacco products of all kinds. “Cigarettes did a lot of damage to my family,” she says, “and I just associated all tobacco with that same harmful effect. Eventually, though, one of my closest friends (now my boyfriend) started smoking a pipe and told me about all the research that he had done about them. Once I did the research on my own and tried my first pipe, I knew that it was something different and something that I enjoyed immensely.

“Initially, I did my research to learn more about something that interested my boyfriend. After doing that for a while, I started doing the research for my own enjoyment. I love the art of pipes, the history, the connection to the past. The pleasure of smoking a delicious aromatic is just the icing on the cake!”

Lauren is currently enjoying some Mac Baren’s Honey and Chocolate  from an IMP Meerschaum freehand. As you can tell, that meerschaum is starting to color nicely after many smoking sessions!

Sipping the same pipe and tobacco while reclining in a leather chair. There really is nothing more relaxing than a pipe and leather chair after a long night of work!

Lauren is clearly appreciating her evening smoke.

Taking a break from puffing. I think she just now remembered that I was there…

My personal favorite picture. Lauren reclines with a Peterson churchwarden. I love the coloration of this picture and the pose, as I feel that it accentuates the pipe and the experience of relaxing with a good smoke.

***

This is just the first in this series. I plan on continuing to find more ladies of all ages who smoke pipes and other people who enjoy pipes, regardless of any distinguishing features, in an attempt to break the stereotypes of  the age, gender, and race of pipe smokers. Look for Lauren to make a return appearance describing how she became interested in pipes and how she came to own her first pipe.

The goal for the “Transforming Stereotypes” series is to find those who do not necessarily fit into the cliche image of a pipe smoker and to tell their story. Whether this means a young man, an older woman, or just someone of a different ethnicity, I hope to see the catalogue of experiences grow to include those from all walks of life, so long as they love pipes. It is, after all, what we have in common that brings us together.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed.

Cheers,

Ethan ‘thefoolish’ Brandt