Just because I’m big, doesn’t mean I’m not bomb.
So…Let’s talk about stereotypes, sis. Plus-size women have some pretty weird misconceptions that society has created in order for us to feel like we are the ugly ducklings of the beauty community. As a member of the plus-size club, I feel as if there are some things we need to shed light on that have been totally offensive and just down right strange. There are many different reasons someone could be overweight, which is why the stereotypes are so aggravating. Let’s discuss some of the ones that really grind my gears.
- The phrase “you gotta be two something to do something”
- This phrase actually physically makes my stomach hurt. Although many plus women see it as a compliment from men, saying that their preference is a larger woman, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Many people have recently shown an outpouring of support for plus-size women, but this particular type of “support” is low-key fetishizing and just feels like a “for-the-moment” type trend.
- We’re always eating.
- LISTEN. If I’m hungry? Guess what I’m gonna do? EAT! it’s a common stereotype, and it’s annoying. In almost every TV show/Movie I’ve seen, the token fat character is either lazy or stuffing their face as a little jokey joke. It’s really not that funny y’all, retire that. Give the fat character a good, busy, fast – paced job and hobbies, and stop portraying them as “inactive”. Oh, and make them vegan with a meal plan sometimes. 🤨
- We’re jealous of skinny or BBL body types.
- Let me just say this first, these women are absolutely beautiful. Their bodies do not define who they really are as a person on the inside. I will never be jealous of any woman and I stand on that babes! I don’t care about who is thinner than I am! I’m not comparing myself to them! We are not all jealous of people who are smaller than us, some of us are perfectly happy with who we are. PERIODT.
- We have some type of body dysmorphia
- We know it. We see it everyday. There is no need for you to remind us that we are indeed, fat. I am aware some women have body dysmorphia and suffer from it greatly, but if you feel the need to point out what I’m looking like, because I’m wearing a short skirt, my tummy is hanging out of my crop top, and you can see my stretch marks on my arms in my tank top, it’s not because I “think I’m skinny” it’s because I can do what I want and I don’t care. It’s MY body, girl.
- If we’re overweight, we must be unhygienic.
- It’s this one for me! How does me being bigger, equal me being unhygienic??? It’s giving….ignorance! I’ve been around too many stinky skinny people for this to be any type of true! This is one of the more common stereotypes or we wouldn’t see the fat, sloppy character in a TV show/Movie portrayed as a slob. Cheeto stains on the shirt and fingers, wrinkled clothes, unkempt appearance. This shouldn’t even have to be said, but not every overweight person is nasty and dirty. I actually smell like blueberries. lol
- The real kicker, we are either lesbians or bisexual. (???)
- I- honestly, don’t even get me started with this one y’all. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve gone outside to Target or the grocery store with some sweats, a hoodie, and a baseball cap on and been asked if I was a stud or stem. It literally blows my mind. “you just look like it.” HOW? I have never heard of this happening to a thin woman before, but I hear it all the time with plus women. There is nothing wrong with being part of the LGBTQIA+ community because I love y’all, I just find it super interesting that we get asked if we like women a lot more than the average woman.
On a more serious note & in conclusion, stereotypes and assumptions can be hurtful and destructive to a person’s feelings. This is where discrimination is born. We need to make it a point to educate ourselves and look outside of our box that we live in day by day. It’s not cool to discriminate against someone for any reason, and size is not an exception.
Love,
Tay Slay 🤍