Unlocking Sexual Attraction For Plus-Sized Women

Fat fetishism, or adipophilia, is a sexual attraction to overweight or obese people, primarily due to their weight and size. While some people are sexually attracted to fat women, they may be ashamed of it or hide their desires. This can result in hurtful situations where fat women are used for purely sexual relationships, rather than being treated with respect and love. The fat fetishism community overlaps with body positivity and fat feminism movements, and there are advocacy organizations working to help male fat fetishists find fat women to date and have sex with. However, it's important to distinguish fat fetishism from hogging, where men target overweight or obese women for sexual encounters without being attracted to their bodies, often with the intention to manipulate or humiliate.

Recognise the objectification and bigotry often faced by fat women

Fat women are often objectified and face weight-based discrimination, which negatively impacts their self-esteem and body image. This discrimination is not limited to women, as fat men also face social disapproval and are perceived as less masculine and desirable, which can undermine their status and identity. Objectification theory (OT) proposed by Fredrickson and Roberts explains how individuals, primarily women, are treated as objects to be looked at and evaluated, leading to self-surveillance behaviours and negative emotions.

Fat stigmatisation and body objectification are prevalent on social media platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Reddit, where individuals face judgment and criticism based on their physical appearance. This contributes to a culture of body shaming and reinforces gender inequality by emphasising the cultural importance of women's weight and physical appearance.

The fat acceptance movement has emerged to address these issues, advocating for the rights and respect of fat individuals, particularly women. However, the movement has faced criticism for allegedly promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, despite its focus on challenging patriarchal oppression and body image ideals imposed on women.

Additionally, the concept of "fat talk" has been studied, referring to the phenomenon of women engaging in mutual disparagement about their body size and shape. This type of negative self-talk can have detrimental psychological consequences, reinforcing a "normative discontent" with one's body.

Recognising and addressing these issues are crucial steps towards creating a more inclusive and respectful society, where individuals are valued beyond their physical appearance and weight. Challenging objectification and bigotry faced by fat women involves acknowledging their inherent worth and respecting their rights to live free from discrimination and harmful stereotypes.

Understand the fetishism and sexual orientation of fat admiration

Fat fetishism, also known as fat admiration, fat appreciation, or adipophilia (from the Latin "adept", meaning "fat", and the Greek "philia", meaning "love"), is a sexual attraction directed towards overweight or obese people due primarily to their weight and size. It is important to note that fat fetishism is not inherently pathological or deviant and exists on a spectrum, like any other sexual preference. It can be consensual and fulfilling for those involved, but it is crucial to ensure that all interactions are based on mutual consent, respect, and understanding.

The modern concept of fat fetishism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the rise of photography and mass media. The portrayal of curvier bodies in art and media played a significant role in shaping societal perceptions of attractiveness. In various cultures throughout history, larger bodies were often associated with wealth, fertility, and abundance.

Fat fetishism includes both real-life and internet communities. Some practices and subcultures within these communities include internet porn, ""gaining" and "feeding", which involves eating to intentionally gain weight, "hogging", where men seek out fat women to sexually exploit, and "squashing", which is a sexual attraction to the idea of being crushed by a fat person. A variety of fat fetishism is 'feed(er)ism' or 'gaining', where sexual gratification is obtained from the process of gaining weight or helping others to gain weight. Fat fetishism also incorporates 'stuffing' and 'padding', where the focus of arousal is on the sensations and properties of a real or simulated weight gain.

The fat fetishism community has overlapped with body positivity and fat feminism movements. The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA) is an advocacy organization for fat people that was partly formed to help male fat fetishists and other fat admirers (FAs) find fat women to date and have sex with. While gaining and feeding are often considered fetishes, many within the gainer and feedism communities view them more as a lifestyle, identity, or sexual orientation.

Explore the fat acceptance movement and its advocacy organisations

The fat acceptance movement, initially known as "Fat Pride", "Fat Power", or "Fat Liberation", began in the late 1960s as a form of social activism to combat discrimination against overweight and obese individuals. The movement has evolved over the years, with early activists drawing attention to the dominant model of obesity and challenging it. Today, the movement focuses on valuing and respecting the rights of people with larger bodies by ending size discrimination and advocating for policy changes to address weight stigma.

One of the earliest organised efforts in the fat acceptance movement was the National Association to Aid Fat Americans, now called the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA). NAAFA was founded in 1969 in response to discrimination and has since worked to address weight bias and discrimination against fat people as a civil rights issue. They provide education, advocacy, and support to create opportunities and build a community for people with larger bodies. NAAFA also campaigns for the inclusion of body size in anti-discrimination legislation.

Another notable organisation in the fat acceptance movement is the Fat Underground, a feminist group formed in 1972. The movement has also influenced academic scholarship, with the emergence of Fat Studies as a legitimate field of study in universities. Additionally, self-published zines, blogs, and online communities have played a significant role in connecting people beyond conferences and in-person meetings.

The Health at Every Size movement is another important initiative that grew out of the fat acceptance movement. It challenges the assumption that weight is a direct indicator of health and advocates for a weight-neutral approach to healthcare. This movement is informed by psychologists who recognised the negative treatment of fat people in the medical world.

Fat activists and advocates continue to push for changes in societal, personal, and medical attitudes towards fat people. They challenge the notion that fatness reflects negatively on a person's character and argue that health issues related to obesity have been exaggerated or misrepresented. They also emphasise that body weight does not determine healthy behaviours and that people of all shapes and sizes can strive for fitness and physical health.

Learn about the dangers of hogging and the humiliation of fat women

Hogging, or sweat hogging, is a cruel and dangerous practice that involves groups of men targeting overweight or obese women for sexual encounters, with the intention of exploiting and humiliating them. Unlike fat fetishists, men who engage in hogging are not driven by sexual attraction to the women's bodies. Instead, they seek to manipulate the woman's emotional state, derive amusement for themselves and their peers, and exploit the stereotype of low self-esteem among overweight women. Hogging often involves excessive alcohol consumption and emotional detachment, and may or may not include sexual intercourse.

The practice of hogging is rooted in societal fatphobia and the objectification of women's weight, reinforcing gender inequality. It is based on the assumptions that women of size are "easy" and "desperate" and that they are deviant and deserving of mistreatment. Hogging involves making bets among male peers and humiliating the woman involved. For example, men may compete to win a prize for having sex with the "fattest" woman, or they may share stories of their sexual encounters with overweight women in a way that shames and objectifies these women.

The dangers of hogging are significant and far-reaching. It can lead to sexual assault, emotional trauma, and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes about women of size. Hogging perpetuates the idea that fatness is an individual failing and contributes to the stigmatization and discrimination against larger women. The practice preys on vulnerable women, exploiting their perceived low self-esteem and desire for affection.

It is important to recognize that not all men engage in hogging, and there are men who genuinely care for and are attracted to women of size. However, the existence of hogging as a practice underscores the need for societal change and a shift in how we perceive and treat individuals based on their weight. It is crucial to challenge the assumptions and stereotypes that contribute to the objectification and humiliation of fat women.

Identify the signs of a partner who is ashamed of their attraction to fat women

It is important to acknowledge that sexual attraction is subjective and varies across individuals. Fat fetishism or adipophilia refers to a sexual attraction towards overweight or obese individuals due primarily to their weight and size. This community often intersects with body positivity and fat feminism movements.

Now, moving on to the signs of a partner who might be ashamed of their attraction to fat women:

• They might avoid introducing their partner to friends and family, indicating a sense of embarrassment or self-consciousness about their partner's weight.
• They may express disappointment or frustration about their partner's weight gain, especially if it continues throughout the relationship.
• The partner might try to help their significant other lose weight, which could be an attempt to address their own discomfort with their partner's body type.
• They might feel the need to keep the relationship a secret or not be open about it, possibly due to fearing judgment or not wanting to be associated with their partner's weight.
• The individual might struggle to talk about their attraction openly, especially if they fear hurting their partner's feelings or causing discomfort in the relationship.
• They may exhibit signs of internalized shame, such as feeling guilty about their attraction or questioning their partner's suitability due to their weight.

It is important to remember that everyone has different preferences and that attraction is a complex and personal matter. Communicating openly and respectfully is essential in any relationship, and individuals should strive to move beyond societal expectations and judgments about body image.

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