BBW is short for “big beautiful woman,” and it is used to describe women who are obese but still look beautiful and desirable. In a world where the skinny figure is considered the pinnacle of beauty, BBW is a phrase that empowers all women who don’t fit that beauty standard.
Apart from redefining beauty standards, the BBW abbreviation is also impacting the world of dating. Even though most big women believe that they need to lose weight to be attractive and find a partner, there are many people out there who prefer thick bodies.
You can observe this trend on dating apps, where many users look for BBW.
BBW is also used as the name for the category of adult videos in which female actresses are curvy, thick, or obese. However, this phrase is by no means insulting and derogatory. Its main purpose is to show that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
The Origins and Significance of BBW
Throughout our history, different societies had different views on beauty. In many cases, fuller women were considered the most beautiful. However, in the 20th century, skinny women became more popular, especially in the Western world. From there, this beauty standard soon spread all over the world.
Obese women were deemed ugly, and their existence was either ridiculed or ignored. In 1979, a woman named Carole Shaw coined the phrase BBW.
However, she went one step further and established a fashion and beauty magazine and named it BBW. This magazine’s target audience and most faithful readers were bigger women.
Since then, BBW has become widely used, even among people who never heard of Carole Shaw and her magazine. Still, obese and fuller women had to wait for several more decades to be accepted as beautiful. For example, during the 1990s and early 2000s, beauty standards forced the idea that only skinny women were desirable women.
However, that changed in the mid-2010s, during the peak of the fat-positivity movement, a period when society became more open to different beauty standards. Suddenly, even the major fashion houses started supporting the notion that bigger women are also beautiful.
As a result, many fashion brands became more inclusive by making clothes of a wide range of sizes.
During this time, many big women gained more confidence. Before, they were often ridiculed for their weight, but now they felt sexy and accepted at last. Men were no longer shy to admit that they found big women attractive.
Of course, even though beauty standards have become more inclusive and realistic, there is still a long way to go before big, beautiful women get all the recognition and love that they deserve. Still, by using fat-positive language, we are creating a more fair and inclusive society.
Alternative Meanings
Apart from empowering big women, BBW can also be used to empower black women. In that context, BBW means “Black Beautiful Woman.” If the black woman in question is on the heavier side, BBW can mean “Big Black Woman.”
There are also some meanings that aren’t even similar to “big beautiful woman.” For example, BBW can also mean “Be Back Whatever,” a phrase sometimes used in texting when you want to say you will be back sometime later.
Some companies, for example, Bath & Body Works, were also referred to as BBW because those are their initials. However, it is safe to assume that BBW means “big beautiful woman” unless the context implies a different meaning.
Examples of Use and Variations
Before you decide to use BBW in your daily communication with others, you need to know how to use it properly. Also, you need to learn when it is ok to say/write BBW and when you should avoid it.
Just like most slang terms, BBW isn’t the best choice of words when you are in a professional setting or around unknown people. It is best if you use this phrase in casual conversations with people you know.
Also, even though BBW has positive connotations, you never know how someone might react to it. Some women will feel flattered, while others will get insulted. To avoid the latter, you can always ask a woman if she wants to be called a BBW.
Given that you found the right time and place to use BBW, you can use it in sentences similar to these:
- “Did you see Jessica and her curves? She’s a real BBW!”
- “I used to diet a lot without any results. Now I accepted my body, and I am proud to be a BBW.”
- “He always preferred to date bigger women. His type is definitely BBW.”
Now, you might wonder which women fall under the category of BBW. In general, any obese woman can be considered a BBW. And there is even a term for women who are extremely obese – 350-400 lbs and above. These women are called SSBBW – super-size, big, beautiful women.
Conclusion
BBW is the acronym usually for “big beautiful woman”. It is used to describe bigger women in a positive way, which wasn’t always the case. As such, it has played a significant role in the fat-positivity movement.
If you want to use BBW, we encourage you to do so! However, do it in a respectful and appropriate manner. After all, this phrase should make women feel better in their skin, not insult them!
