BBW - meaning and definition
AlsoBHMbig beautiful womanBHMbig handsome manbig beautiful womenplus size dating
Definition
Short for "big beautiful woman": a term for a plus-size woman, used both as a self-description and as a stated preference. BHM ("big handsome man") is the male counterpart.
At a glance
- Means 'big beautiful woman', a term for a plus-size woman.
- BHM, 'big handsome man', is the male counterpart.
- Began as a positive label in the size-acceptance movement.
- Some find it fetishising when used by others; self-description is what counts.
In detail
BBW originated in the size-acceptance movement of the 1970s and 1980s as a positive, affirming label. Many plus-size women still use it proudly on profiles.
It has also been adopted by adult-content categories, so some people find it fetishising when used by others. As with most labels, how someone describes themselves is what counts.
In a sentence
- Proud BBW, love karaoke and Sunday roasts.
- She calls herself BBW, but I'd never assume someone wants that label.
Where the word comes from
BBW was coined by Carole Shaw, who launched a fashion and lifestyle magazine of that name in 1979 as part of the size-acceptance movement.
Common questions
Is BBW a positive or negative term?
It started as a positive, affirming label and many plus-size women still use it proudly. Because it has also been used in adult-content categories, some find it objectifying when others apply it to them.