Comments on: BBWOMGWTF?

By: Alice

Alice — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:58:33 +0000

Word, Twistie and others who are pointing out the issues of time and place. In the present, I see BBW as a classifieds term – take it or SBM, DWF, etc. out of that context, and it still carries a connotation of being on the prowl, and not necc. looking for anything long-term.

Anyway, I like ‘fat’ as the word to describe my fatness. It’s accurate, and it’s only derogatory if you see fatness as being a bad thing. We’ve all got a bit of internalized fat hatred (at least I do), but that doesn’t make the word any less useful or accurate.

A lot of the debate around BBW I think comes from the fact that it’s still really hard for many of us to see ourselves as sexy – I myself often find myself thinking of it as sexy* – sexy for who I am, but not sexy in an absolute sense. Much of that comes from the fact that ‘absolute’ gets conflated with ‘on the cover of Maxim.’ Re-defining sexy to mean ‘what I find sexy’ as opposed to ‘what Maxim would find sexy’ is a way longer process than I would wish, but the more progress I make, the less problem I have with all terms – fat, BBW, etc.

By: Constance

Constance — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:14:16 +0000

Oh, how I remember picking up my first copy of BBW magazine way back when and thinking, “WOW, finally a magazine for me.”
BBW is a term I use from time to time, especially on dating sites, but I’m embracing “fat” as a descriptive more and more.

By: Rob Anne

Rob Anne — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:36:36 +0000

As the writer of Curvature I have this to say:

Criticisms are valid. I was 18 when I wrote that blog (for a class, I might add) and have grown up a lot since then in my views of feminism, fat, and everything in between. I will note that I still eschew the term BBW, but it’s because it’s a label that attempts to mask the word “fat.” I understand why it was created, but I’d rather not be reduced to an abbreviation in any form, even if it’s meant to be complimentary.

By: Liza

Liza — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:11:08 +0000

Twisty=awesome

That’s basically what I was thinking, but because I wasn’t alive yet at the time I didn’t know exactly how. Or if I had the cred to do so. :)

I think everyone here is talking in today’s terms. Think in 30-years-ago terms and BBW makes a whole lot more sense.

Besides, something like that might be a nice stepping stone for someone who is sick of being all self-loathing but isn’t secure enough to toss “fat” around casually yet.

By: Monica M

Monica M — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:51:48 +0000

BBW Magazine was a revelation to me back in the early 80s. Even though I was a size 10/12 and didn’t ever expect to be larger, I admired the women in those mags tremendously. I realize now that the message that moved me so deeply was that of accepting, even loving, your body as it was. That idea was absolutely revolutionary back then. Hell, it still is today.

Now I’m 100 pounds heavier than I was back then â€“ yes, the “worst” happened to me. And though it’s been a hard road to here, I love my body more than I ever did when I was thin (and thought I was fat). BBW started me down the long road to self-acceptance and I’m grateful.

By: Addish

Addish — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:15:18 +0000

I’m not sure I could answer this in one little comment. But potentially long comment short. I’m fine with the term BBW. I can’t really get behind Curvature’s stance as I also love pornography and since I have somewhat of a preference for bigger women as well, I guess you could call me a chubby chaser.

I’m not sure I see why it has to be some wierd sick fetish just because I like bigger women. That doesn’t mean I’d only go for bigger women, but I just like em that way.

By: CindyS

CindyS — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:10:41 +0000

When I was Internet dating, I described myself as having “an hourglass figure with lots of extra sand”.

By: Mulberry

Mulberry — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:26:08 +0000

Does the writer really believe that thinner women are loved just for their confidence, taste and intelligence and not for their bodies?? What a stupid argument.
BBW was intended to be analogous to another popular saying of the time – “Black is Beautiful.” It was supposed to be a statement of pride.
If the “models inside said magazine hid behind tunics and drapey jackets”, that wasn’t the magazine’s fault. At that time, there really wasn’t much of a choice. If the younger folk around here could see what was available in stores for sizes beyond 14 or so, they would weep.
I have fond memories of BBW. They tried to include all manner of fat people as models. There were issues devoted to petites, women over 40, and one with a stunningly gorgeous super-size model.
I particularly liked to look at the hairstyles. Where else could you find pictures of hairstyles on large faces?
Twistie, Carol Gwenn, thanks for telling it like it was. If the connotation of BBW has been degraded since then, that is just the way our language evolves. Consider that “whore” was once used as a term of endearment, and as a euphemism for something else.

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:04:04 +0000

I do think Curvature can be a bit over the top, BUT…I’m actually with this one, just based on Flickr: if it says “BBW” you can bet it’s fetish and has porn linked all over it.

And I do remember when BBW was attempted to be a way of introducing the positive. It really didn’t work.

By: Bilt4Cmfrt

Bilt4Cmfrt — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:04:21 +0000

Yip! Twisty beat me too it! Must. Type. Faster. ; )