The Language of Fat
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean --neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master --that's all."
—from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Fat. Round. Obese. Overweight. Rotund. Chunky. Thick. Zaftig. Huge. Healthy. Rubenesque. Voluptuous. Elephantine. A whale. A hippo. Big-boned. Large. Larger. Super-size. Queen-Sized. Curvy. Hefty. Fluffy. Giant. Gi-normous. Big. BBW. Fatso. Fattie. Curvacious. Pudgy. Pillowy. Shapely. Compact. More to love. Cushion for the Pushin'. Full-figured. Plus-sized. Womanly.
No matter how you say it, it seems everyone is talking about body size—either their own or someone else's. Fatspeak is a national obsession. So much talk is meant to belittle (pun intended) the body in question, it’s easy to give offense where none was intended. Here's a quick lexicon on Fat Language. Consider this a travel phrase book to the land of Fat where the roads are often dangerous, unmapped and slippery when wet.
What s/he says: "Does this make my ass look fat?"
What s/he means: "Do you hate my body as much as I do?"
What you say: "No."
The simple answer is always "No." But circumstances may dictate one or more of the following:
What you say: "Turn around let me see. (Long pause) Wait... I'm not done looking at your ass yet."
What you say: "Your ass is gorgeous but that doesn't look comfortable."
What you say: "Your ass looks best naked but that will do."
Sometimes there is no simple answer. Sometimes there is no answer at all.
What s/he says: "If only I could lose weight."
What s/he means: "I hate my body. "
What you said: "I love you just the way you are."
What s/he heard (on a good day): "I love you in spite of the way you are."
What s/he heard (on a bad day): "You're lucky to have me, you fat cow."
What s/he says: "I am so fat."
What s/he means: "I hate my body."
What you said: "I'm fat too."
What s/he heard (on a good day): "I hate your body too."
What s/he heard (on a bad day): "If I were skinnier I'd leave you."
What you should say: "Don't be silly." (Then change the subject to something other than his/her body hatred.)
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master --that's all."
—from Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Fat. Round. Obese. Overweight. Rotund. Chunky. Thick. Zaftig. Huge. Healthy. Rubenesque. Voluptuous. Elephantine. A whale. A hippo. Big-boned. Large. Larger. Super-size. Queen-Sized. Curvy. Hefty. Fluffy. Giant. Gi-normous. Big. BBW. Fatso. Fattie. Curvacious. Pudgy. Pillowy. Shapely. Compact. More to love. Cushion for the Pushin'. Full-figured. Plus-sized. Womanly.
No matter how you say it, it seems everyone is talking about body size—either their own or someone else's. Fatspeak is a national obsession. So much talk is meant to belittle (pun intended) the body in question, it’s easy to give offense where none was intended. Here's a quick lexicon on Fat Language. Consider this a travel phrase book to the land of Fat where the roads are often dangerous, unmapped and slippery when wet.
What s/he says: "Does this make my ass look fat?"
What s/he means: "Do you hate my body as much as I do?"
What you say: "No."
The simple answer is always "No." But circumstances may dictate one or more of the following:
What you say: "Turn around let me see. (Long pause) Wait... I'm not done looking at your ass yet."
What you say: "Your ass is gorgeous but that doesn't look comfortable."
What you say: "Your ass looks best naked but that will do."
Sometimes there is no simple answer. Sometimes there is no answer at all.
What s/he says: "If only I could lose weight."
What s/he means: "I hate my body. "
What you said: "I love you just the way you are."
What s/he heard (on a good day): "I love you in spite of the way you are."
What s/he heard (on a bad day): "You're lucky to have me, you fat cow."
What s/he says: "I am so fat."
What s/he means: "I hate my body."
What you said: "I'm fat too."
What s/he heard (on a good day): "I hate your body too."
What s/he heard (on a bad day): "If I were skinnier I'd leave you."
What you should say: "Don't be silly." (Then change the subject to something other than his/her body hatred.)
Love the song list. As a plus-sized girl myself, I know dealing with body issues can be a large pain. I think I'm going to have to give some of those songs a listen. Thanks!
"Does this make my ass look fat?" is one of those questions that I hate with a passion. Women trap guys into this all the time. I don't think it's so much about insecurity as it is trying to trick guys into saying what they think is the wrong thing. My female friends know better than to ask me that. They know they'd get my honest answer and they probably wouldn't like it. I'm just glad none of my female friends are that sad.
I love it all!