fat people deserve to feel comfortable and confident, whether or not they choose to perform their gender or dress nice! fat people deserve to feel free to wear whatever they like, including casual clothes, including clothing that isn’t designed to make them look attractive! fat people dserve love and worth that is not contingent on their looks! fat people deserve to be seen as the beautiful people they are, but also to be treated as peoplewhether or not they conform to beauty standards!
So I’m currently working on a short story for an explicitly fat-positive anthology, and it’s making me realize just how little language I have readily at hand for describing large bodies in positive terms!
Putting aside for a moment the whole debate over HAES and fat positivity and everything else – and if you clown on this post, I’m simply going to block you, that’s not what we’re here for – sometimes you just want to write a story with a fat person in it and you need some adjectives/descriptive language that isn’t overtly gross and/or fetishistic.
Well, I’ve got you, fam. I have compiled this handy list of descriptive terms and phrases for describing big bodies with positive connotations.
Why am I doing this?
Because this:
And this:
And frankly, we all deserve better. So let’s go.
Positive (and Neutral) Adjectives for Fatness
Abundant
Ample
Big
Broad
Buxom
Considerable
Curvy
Full
Generous
Heavy
Large
Luscious
Plentiful
Plump
Replete
Robust
Round
Rubenesque
Soft
Solid
Stocky
Substantial
Thick
Voluptuous
Zaftig
Movement Verbs Evoking Fatness
Amble
Bounce
Lope
Mosey
Pad
Plod
Pound
Ramble
Scoot
Shuffle
Trundle
Some Points to Keep In Mind
A big part of challenging fatphobia in writing is inverting or subverting stereotypes. Here are a few lazy/played-out tropes and things to think about:
Fat = Greedy I think we can all agree at this point that there are better ways to show greed – such as excessive wealth, entitlement, selfishness, and so forth. There is really no need to use fatness or gluttony as a metaphor for these concepts. Just write your greedy character doing greedy things and resist the urge to make them also be fat. If you need a strong visual metaphor, go for opulence and wealth instead.
Fat = Gross A ton of media, especially horror, loves making fat people slovenly, smelly, covered in food stains, farting and belching, etc. etc. So if you want a more positive representation, just presenting the character as clean, well-dressed, tidy, etc. actually goes a very long way. Consider playing against type by making your fat character dapper or fastidious about other elements of their appearance, like their hair, or wearing very nice custom-fitted clothes (or even just “dressing up” a bit more than everyone else).
Fat = Out of Shape Yes, absolutely, many fat people are also out of shape couch potatoes. But so are a lot of skinny people. And fat people absolutely can be athletic – go google “fat athletes” for several lists of them if you don’t believe me! Sure, you probably won’t find a ton of fat long-distance runners, but you’ll definitely find plenty of hefty weight lifters, fighters, folks with physical jobs, etc. A lot of super muscular people are also carrying extra fat, and that is in fact way more common and natural than the super-defined, well-cut muscles you see on TV. Keep that in mind the next time you’re writing an army of strong hand-to-hand combatants – they’re likely to be physically big,not in a bulging muscle He-Man way but more of an “absolute unit” way. Keep in mind, too, that even regular folks packing extra pounds will often tend to be a lot stronger (on account of spending every day carrying extra weight!) You can be fat and graceful, fat and strong, fat and with endurance. Just something to keep in mind.
Fat = Pig Pigs have a reputation for being huge, dirty, smelly, garbage-eating slobby creatures, and “disgusting fat pig” and “porker” and their ilk have been insults against big people for a long time. Of course, in reality pigs are also super smart, highly social (and fucking terrifying) but that’s not usually waht gets invoked when people think of them! Really, avoiding animal language when talking about people is often a good idea (since animal comparisons can be dehumanizing), but if you are going to evoke an animal, go with something else. Like a seal (super cute, very graceful in its natural environment) or a bear (big and solid and intimidating) or a bull elk (thick and majestic).
Fat = Ugly Fat people can be beautiful. I mean, sure, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and inner beauty is a thing and all that – but that’s not what I’m talking about. I mean that fat bodies are great! They’re warm and soft and huggable. They’re big and solid and comforting. They can be strong and protective. They can be super-feminine and curvy. Cute as a button or powerful and demanding with their presence.
Obviously dismantling fatphobia is a whole big (ha, ha) topic all on its own, and there’s a ton more to think about. But this is at least something to get you started!
Context matters a whole lot in description – words can be positive or negative based on how they’re utilized! But these are at least some terms intended to be a bit less loaded with negative baggage than those often used in less flattering descriptions.
Have you read a book with a fat character who had a great or interesting description? Please reblog, I’d love to see how other authors have handled it!
[Image one: Some very unflattering results for a Google search of “fat adjectives”. Image two: A list of answers to the question, “How do you say fat in a cute way?” The results are mixed at best, including “Big as a whale”, “Couch potato,” “Miss Piggy,” “Pear-shaped”, “Voluptuous”, and a long literary example, “A woman of robust frame, square-shouldered and strong-limbed…” End IDs.]
The person I’m reblogging this from does a lovely job in her work, IMO.
Mechanica by Betsy Cromwell was also good, IMO. It’s been a while since I read it, but it has a fat main character (not the POV character, but a very important one), and I don’t recall her fatness ever being described negatively. IIRC, the closest thing that came up was when she couldn’t fit through a window, and the POV character, the only other person there, didn’t give her any shit over it; nor did the character in question seem to feel negatively about her size because of it, just frustrated by the situation.
What’s better than a wrap dress? A mock wrap dress! All the curves and swerves of a wrap dress with none of the stress of a tie coming undone and you unintentionally flashing your coworkers.
I think everyone should have a wrap dress somewhere in their closet. I think they look great on all body types and are a simple, low effort option for work. This little number is from Taking Shape in size 24.
It’s far too early. I am on my way to Mackay (yay ) to participate in an exercise. I’m missing my vocal lesson, pottery class and a hair appointment that took me SIX MONTHS to get. I am not a happy camper.
However I am wearing my fave math/english tshirt by @nathanwpyle. It’s an if not now Venn
I am LIVING for plus size jumpsuits I love this number from Taking Shape in size 24. It’s loose, cool and comfortable and can be styled up or down. It’s such a fun piece to wear. The mesh top is from BeMe in size XL and of course topped off with my Hinako butterfly shoes.
Brights today! I’m feeling really gloomy today so I thought maybe if I dress brightly I’ll feel a bit brighter. The pants are from Taking Shape in size 24 and the top is from BeMe (before they were bought out and only produce crap now) in size XL. I love the slashed sleeves, perfect for feeling just a bit cooler in this warm weather.
Dressing for the office not the weather outside. So after months of the aircon going in and out it is now working too well and I’m a little chilly. Today I have a tunic from My Size in size XL, leggings from Taking Shape in size XLT (loving the tall leggings) and some bonus adorable nudibranch earrings.
A spring fling today (even though it is the middle of summer). Bit the dress and the cover up are from Taking Shape in size XL. I don’t normally wear pastels or florals but I actually love the print on this dress and the cut and fabric are lovely.
Happy Valentine’s/Galentine’s day to all my beautiful followers. You are all special, wonderful, gorgeous people who deserve love and happiness.
So today is going to be 38°C (about 100F) where I am but I’m also doing a presentation at work today. So I have on my lovely light palazzo trousers from Love Yours in size 26/28, a cool bamboo cami in XL and a thin but professional looking jacket in XL. The cami, jacket and love heart are all from Taking Shape.
This is supposed to be a dress, oh the joys of being a tall super fat! Teamed with leggings and Mary Janes it does make a cool and classic look for work. The top/dress is from Taking Shape size XL. I love the print because it has a great tactile quality (cue me telling everyone to touch me ).
Still working those summer time vibes. Love this boho sundresses in this summer’s hottest colour khaki (I don’t know why it’s such a hot colour this season but it is everywhere). The dress is from Autograph in size 26 and the cover up is also from Autograph in size XXL.
Welcome to holiday weekday slay! It’s so freaking hot here today and I’ve been outside all day. Fat girls deserve to be cool and comfortable too, not always hiding behind layers of fabric, cardigans, cover ups!
dont just support the hour glass/big booty “acceptable” fat girl
This is why I do this blog! I have weird curves and small boobs! I think it’s important to be visible, to shout out hey I’m here, I’m unacceptable and I can still enjoy clothing and fashion.
I LOVE being fat! I love eating! I move my body and enjoy my life like any person should! My life may be different from alot of others but I make due with who I am and the body I inhabitant, Being fat and loving myself has helped me progress as a person when I used to be invisible. Being fat is the one of the best damn thing that happened to me (other than my gf <3) and I’m going to celebrate it
You people realize the body positivity movement is literally a political movement right. Like it’s a movement that was started to improve the rights of fat people and stop discrimination against fat people. You realize that. It’s not a tea party where everyone just compliments everyone else on their looks.
One time I was teaching undergrads and we were talking about how you can even define what is “fair” in employment. And I was explaining how there have been court cases about employers forcing their employees to wear makeup or do their hair/nails, etc, so of course we end up talking about flight attendants. And my students, predictably, are like, “Well ok but in the case of flight attendants, being good looking is literally just part of the job description.” So I point out how applying this principle universally would basically make it so that any employer could refuse to hire someone who was fat or ugly. And That One Kid was like, “Well if it affects the business’s ability to make money, I mean, that’s just smart.” And so I say, “Yes, that is certainly what a capitalist would say. But don’t you think that allowing that capitalist interest to take precedence would lead to a world in which it’s legally permissible to refuse to hire someone just because they’re fat or ugly? Basically legalizing discrimination and blocking access to work and livelihood?” And this motherfucker is like, “Well, yeah. ”
When I tell you I almost had to leave…I was full-body shaking and afterward, my queer students came up and were like, “omg are you okay?”
So yeah, it’s fucking political. What you think is about personal aesthetic preference is actually oppressing huge groups of people, so.
This is a fascinating example because I actually am a flight attendant, and no the fuck it isn’t a part of my job description to “be good looking.” It hasn’t been since the 60s. We’re literally first responders. Should your ER nurse have to wear makeup in order to save your life?
if you would wear it if you were skinny, you can wear it now. you should wear it now. you don’t have to be skinny to wear what you like and what makes you happy. fuck fatphobia. you’ll look amazing.
