Late to the party, I know, but it's never stopped me having an opinion.

I've had quiet, internal cringefests when friends have proudly adopted the BBW moniker. They're friends, I love them, I'll support them if this is how they want to fit into the world around them. I understand that it's empowering in a way, because all too often...the words big (chubby, large, fat, curvy, insert rounded choice) and beautiful are antithetical in our society. Pairing them is an act of rebellion, of affirmation, of taking back the word beautiful from those who beat women over the head with it. It's the equivalent of the movements in the gay community to take back the words used to negate them. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, there are lots of examples of intentional adoption of labels.

And I get that. Really I do. But I feel that society already makes women WAY too obsessive about their dress size...and I'd rather my friends think of themselves as beautiful women, rather than continue to make their identity a relative term. Big? Compared to who? Compared to what? I'd have preferred Cuvaceous Cuties. Or even Busty Babes. But here's the thing...it's not my call. And that's really the least of my objections.

Since first seeing this thread yesterday, though, you folks have changed my mind about one of my objections to the label. I hadn't realized how much until I tried to set out the argument here. At one point, part of my problem was that I thought BBW fetishized large women. I still think it does, I'm starting to wonder how big a problem that is. God knows, we've all got twists...THAT'S certainly not the problem. I was worried that it was seen as a warning label or an appology, as well as a search critera. But I don't think it is any more, I take Liliths point that it's a "love it or leave it" label. I'm still disappointed it's necessary....people have no excuse to be nasty to each other...we all have feelings, and they can all get hurt. I suppose some part of me feels the need for the "get over it" part of the old gay pride marching anthem...but I guess that's happening too, just in different ways?

So here's my 2cents (finally )....maybe, so long as the BBW moniker is of use and benefit to those who want it...it should stay. But I can still quietly look forward to the day when everyone realizes that size is an irrelevance, and that beauty is just the radiance of the soul.