Ivy doesn't look like most performers in mainstream pornography. Then again, the thousands of viewers who have logged on to watch her YouTube videos or look at her photo sets aren't seeking mainstream adult entertainment. While most porn stars and pinups show off their tits and ass, Ivy shows off her big belly, the body part fetishized in the niche genre of feeding porn.
Photos and videos on websites like BigCuties and BBW Pinups show scantily clad, obese women packing away pastries, chowing down on cheeseburgers, and feasting on fries. In one video, Ivy performs calisthenics until she groans and wheezes. Then, after looking off-camera for reassurance, she begins to gorge on powdered donuts while exaggeratedly and sensually licking the powder from her fingers and rubbing her stomach, still gasping for breath. Where traditional porn emphasizes largeness in breasts and penises, feeding porn eroticizes the quantity of food women like Ivy can consume, as well as the combination of pleasure and pain that comes from consuming it.
If, as Laura Kipnis suggests in her 1999 book Bound and Gagged: Pornography and the Politics of Fantasy in America, pornography serves as a repository for images and ideas expelled from society at large, feeding porn seems inevitable. As we all know from shows like Half Ton Teen, 650-Pound Virgin, I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day, and even the new reality-dieting show Dance Your Ass Off, in a society accustomed to fanatical diets and fastidious exercise regimens, few things provoke fascination like obese bodies.
And given the rich historical parallels between food and sexuality, one can't help but consider this literal food porn a symptom of women's repressed sexual and physical appetites. Historian Joan Jacobs Brumberg noted in 2000's Fasting Girls: The History of Anorexia Nervosa that in Victorian bourgeois society, what a girl or woman ate was thought to reflect not her taste buds but her character, and appetite became less a biological instinct and more a social tool. The culture condemned indulgence in rich, "sensual" foods like meat and candy, thought to stimulate sexual urges, and lauded female frailty and appetitive renunciation. Today, Western culture still widely associates dieting with self-mastery and obesity with laziness and overindulgence. And the innumerable commercials for "light" versions of fattening foods, which encourage women to indulge—but just a little!—are proof that the offensive association between food, femininity, and morality is still in effect.
To publicly eat when you're already fat might be one of the most transgressive behaviors available to the modern woman. And though feeding pornography eroticizes the pain of overeating, it also emphasizes a certain possibility for female pleasure that is decidedly antagonistic to the heteronormative model—in other words, there's no penis necessary. (In his essay on porn in the book Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession, anthropologist Don Kulick suggests that feeding pornography is a rejection of the penis as the "ultimate bestower of rapture.") Feeding pornography also reconfigures depictions of female pleasure when it offers obese bodies as visual "proof" of female sexual fulfillment: If eating is sexy, the body of a 400-pound woman itself is testament to her satisfaction—no stagy wailing or sheet-clutching required.
But while the presence of obese bodies in porn could be encouraging and radical under different circumstances, feeding porn's gender dynamics undercut that potential. Even in the absence of a phallus, men are central to the eroticized dominance and submission that's performed in feeding pornography. A "feeder" (usually male) encourages the "feedee" (usually female) to gain weight, often literally placing the food in her mouth. The ultimate (if generally unattained) goal of the relationship is for the feedee to become immobile, and this eventual incapacitation is fetishized: Feeders get off on the idea that their feedee might one day become too "satisfied"—and too obese—to move, thus making them completely dependent on their feeder. It's an extreme manifestation of the idea that masculinity in men involves eroticized dominance over women.
The feeders who, off-camera, forcibly coax a female performer like Ivy to gorge posit themselves as masters on whom she is dependent for instruction and encouragement. It's different from much of traditional porn only in the poundage: By performing a relationship of overt dependence, the men who create such videos—and the viewers who identify with them—claim the female body as a site for male domination and control; if the woman happens to enjoy it, that's secondary. In the end, the producers and consumers of feeding porn fail to acknowledge that the female performers really are big, beautiful women, and not just big mouths to feed and big bodies on whom they can imagine perching naked with a box of donuts (as one YouTube commenter does). Feeding porn takes the frat-house idea that some women are just too fat to be fuckable to literally massive proportions. And in fetishizing consumption that makes women
too big to move, the genre makes it hard to look at the pleasure on their faces and not see the violence that follows quickly behind.
Jessica Hester is a student at the University of Chicago, where she studies English and Gender Studies. This is her first contribution to Bitch.
90 Comments Have Been Posted
Wow. Your reading of this
Lisette replied on
Wow. Your reading of this very disturbing trend is spot-on insightful. My own research examines bodily discourse in the construction of the Other, but I focus my research on the mad and "demonic" or otherwise non/uncontrollable body. This "new" (?) fetishization of feeding porn is, frankly, frightening, when we consider that which can provide strength and comfort--food--now becomes yet another violence-infused tool to manipulate and control the female body.
Interesting
Chivone replied on
the idea of feeder culture has always been interesting to me. I too have always thought of the ultimate goal of an incapacitated woman as worrisome. I think that this article does a fine job of analyzing it considering it's not very lengthy. Great job Ms. Hester!
Article FAIL
JJ<3 replied on
Perhaps you should do a little more research when it comes Ivy and what she does for her website.
Also perhaps actually TALKING to her about this might have lent some truth to your statements.
There is no man/feeder filming her when she records her videos, and she gains weight because SHE wants to. There is no male influence sitting there telling her to do so. Sure they ask, but those who do are men she has never met nor spoken to in person, who simply leave their suggestions and comments via forums.
So perhaps in future;
1. ask permission before you write about a girl
2. talk to the girl so you don't write false statements and misconstrued criticisms like you have
and 3. not all feeders even care about weight gain, some just enjoy the act of putting a strawberry in someone's mouth, which is a well known act among people of "socially acceptable" sizes, not just fat women.
knowledge is power; research + facts over speculation + rumour
"There is no man/feeder
FA-X replied on
"There is no man/feeder filming her when she records her videos, and she gains weight because SHE wants to. There is no male influence sitting there telling her to do so. Sure they ask, but those who do are men she has never met nor spoken to in person, who simply leave their suggestions and comments via forums."
There's no male influence? She posts her ads on a multitude of fora and websites, like Curvage, Dimensions, Twitter (you name it). On all these ads there are a plethora of comments from FA telling her how great she looks with 'those extra 3 pounds she gained last week'. And you're telling us there is no male influence?
Just because she has never met or spoken to these people in person, doesn't mean all those comments don't have an effect on her.
I'm pretty sure that if all those comments were to tell her all kinds of negative things constantly for year after year, I'm pretty sure she'd stop her website.
Why? Because constantly hearing negative things about yourself gets to you, and she wouldn't make any money. *Just* as constant positive messages (and messages that ask her to gain weight) get to her too, and make her all warm and fuzzy inside.
------
"1. ask permission before you write about a girl"
Don't kid yourself. The author of this article doesn't have to ask Ivy anything. Ivy puts herself out there for all to see, wether it be on her website (even the front page), on twitter, her stuff is on youtube, and so on.
You *do not* have to ask permission to write an article about something so publically available.
re: There is no man/feeder
Choice replied on
1) The logic that states a woman cannot make informed decisions as a sex worker because of Patriarchal influences victimizes and removes choice from those very women just as surely as patriarchal influence. Of course there is male influence, there's male influence in any straight porn (and a lot of mainstream lesbian porn, which is a different issue). That's a part of the nature of the job. If we want to advocate for the health and safety of women in the porn industry, regardless of whether or not it's a fetish niche, we need to recognize and accept that they make a choice to do what they do.
2) I'm sorry, just because she puts herself out there, does that negate a journalists responsibility to use accurate facts when they analyze? You don't have to ask permission, but don't you think it's ethical? I don't think that the inaccuracy invalidates a lot of the major points in this article, but I think it would have added some depth to the issue.
Re: Feast of Burden
Ivy replied on
Hello,
I've been an avid reader of Bitch for 10+ years and I am also the Ivy mentioned in the article above.
First of all, when writing about something or someone you should probably have a concrete and factual source from which to gather your information from. Relying on two youtube videos for your information that are several years old and weren't even posted by me is pretty irresponsible. Also, using a YOUTUBE COMMENTER as a resource? Really? That is kind of horrifying. At the time that I am assuming you wrote this article I was living in Chicago. I would have been more than happy to discuss feederism and feederistic porn with you in hopes of you writing an article that contained some accurate, factual knowledge. Not that I am an expert on the topic at all, but I know more than what you've shown you know.
Most feeder porn is not filmed by feeders. In fact, I take the majority of the photos and videos for my website myself or with the help of my female best friend. I don't know ONE man who has created any feeder clips. I've never once had a feeder on the sidelines of the camera encouraging me to keep eating. I don't know any women in the industry that have. As far as the "producers" go, you're looking at the only producer for my videos. Same goes for 99% of the other amateur feeder/feedee videos that you will see on the web.
Many female feedees are self fed. Meaning that they have no feeder at all. They are in this for themselves and only themselves. As I mentioned in my other comment, I find it funny that a self proclaimed feminist is so uptight about what other women CHOOSE to do with their own bodies, and how you just assume there are hordes of big bad men behind it all. That is not the case for me or any of the other women that I know who are choosing to gain weight. You are grossly inaccurate in stating that the men "claim the female body as a site for male domination and control; if the woman happens to enjoy it, that’s secondary." In all of the feeding relationships that I have been involved in, with both male and female feeders, my pleasure from the feeding has been the primary focus for both my partner and myself.
The last sentence of your "article" is especially troubling for me. I'm not sure what you think feederism is about, but violence, immobilizing women, and male domination is DEFINITELY not the case. Not even a little bit. Many of my role playing/feeding videos are ACTING. I know that this may be a hard concept for you to understand, but not everything that you see on the internet, even on YouTube, is real life.
I can assure you that I am not in anyway being exploited, abused or controlled and neither are any of the women that I personally am in contact with who are involved in feederism- on or off camera.
Mostly, I am just horrified that Bitch magazine would publish an article that reeks of poor and lazy journalism and is solely a reflection the opinions of a college student who wants to project her own thoughts and feelings onto the world.
And with that, I am off to go make some more videos focusing on abuse and violence against women. AKA trolloping off with my BFF/camerawoman and having delicious pies shoved in my double chinned face.
Love,
Ivy
Supporting the rape culture since 2004!
http://www.hotfattygirl.com
hotfattygirl AT gmail DOT com.
This article is disgusting,
FA Jake replied on
This article is disgusting, misleading, poorly researched, insulting and downright asinine. For fans of big girls like myself, the girls and everyone else involved, this is such an insult. Learn to research. Everything from the image you used, its disgusting. And I can't believe you didn't even talk to ivy. Maybe your next article could focus on anorexia and/or the skinny standard in fashion and hollywood. how girls starve themselves to look like ugly sickly skeletons. Or how in the past plumpness was a sign of happiness and prosperity. How every fertility statue you'll ever see is plump and curvy. So try again. The world is changing and I hope everyones ready.
This is probably an insult
FA-X replied on
This is probably an insult to you because the article actually portrays the feeder-community in a very fair way. And if you're disgusted at the article, you must think highly of yourself.
The article doesn't judge. But you do, because you're annoyed with it.
Seems kind of stupid to me.
Please don't post anymore, I wouldn't want people to think that every FA is like you.
What gives you the right to
Anonymous replied on
This comment has been deleted by the administrators because it contained personal attacks. Let's stick to the issues, mmmkay?
~ Team Bitch
You're a little hostile. Do
JayFA replied on
This post has been deleted by the administrators because it contained personal attacks. NO. MORE. PERSONAL. ATTACKS.
~ Team Bitch
GOD
Jeff replied on
This comment has been deleted by the administrators because it contained personal attacks. Seriously folks, cut it out.
~ Team Bitch
What?! Get the fuck out of
Vennie replied on
Deleted by the administrators. Personal attacks. Stop it, please.
Looks like FA-X is part of
Anonymous replied on
Looks like FA-X is part of Team Bitch since his posts aren't deleted...
Uh, Ivy, she does have
punxgurrl replied on
Uh, Ivy, she does have concrete and factual sources, they're called BOOKS, maybe you should go read one. Maybe you should also actually read her article and her explanation in the comment she made, as she never said that all of these statements apply to you.
Books? What are these
Ivy replied on
Books? What are these "books" you speak of?! Porn girls don't do no readin'. We're all illiterate, uneducated victims of men! You should know better than to ask me to read a BOOK!
I've read Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession. I've read volumes of books on fat politics, eating disorders, body image etc etc. The issue that I have with the article is that the author has obviously NOT done her research since the majority of the "facts" in her article are incorrect.
The article that Ms. Hester wrote and that Bitch magazine so irresponsibly published will reach tens of thousands of people. Bitch has over 50,000 readers, not including people who will see the article online. That is well over 50,000 people who may see and read this article and be misinformed about feederism. For many of these people, it will be the first time they've ever heard of feederism, feeder porn or the idea that there are people who want to gain weight. For the record, there are both men and women who gain weight for sexual pleasure. To publish such a small minded and ill researched version of the fetish is doing the readers of Bitch a gross disservice.
I am aware that in her comment she says that she never meant for all of these statements to apply to me, however in her using me as her example and continuing to mention me throughout her entire article she has done just this. Be it intentional or not. By talking about me she is talking about all of my friends, peers, fellow models and webmistresses. All of whom are being misrepresented by this article. It's not just about me.
"First of all, when writing
FA-X replied on
"First of all, when writing about something or someone you should probably have a concrete and factual source from which to gather your information from."
What other concrete and factual source does she need? She needs to hear the 'truth' from you?
What exactly is wrong with basing an article on something that is out there for all to see?
She used two youtube video's of YOU as an example, and those video's are exactly what she's talking about in her article, how much more concrete and factual does it get?
Also, Ivy, if you don't want to get judged, don't put your stuff out there.
"Relying on two youtube videos for your information that are several years old and weren't even posted by me is pretty irresponsible."
You're even bigger now than you were back then. Using those video's as example only goes to show.
"I've never once had a feeder on the sidelines of the camera encouraging me to keep eating. I don't know any women in the industry that have"
ALL the women in the feeder-community have feeders on the sidelines encouraging to keep eating. They're called your fans and subscribers.
"Many female feedees are self fed. Meaning that they have no feeder at all. They are in this for themselves and only themselves."
The actual percentage of women ACTUALLY wanting to become immobile for themselves, and themselves only, because they enjoy not being able to walk longer distances or taking up an entire couch on the bus, is small. Very small.
"In all of the feeding relationships that I have been involved in, with both male and female feeders, my pleasure from the feeding has been the primary focus for both my partner and myself."
The fact that you have to call it a 'feeding relationship' already tells us the focus of the relationships were much more on the feeding than the actual relationship. That is, most likely, also the cause for them to break up. You even say so yourself...primary focus for both partners -> feeding.
It sounds to me that what she wrote in her article..."claim the female body as a site for male domination and control; if the woman happens to enjoy it, that’s secondary."...is *exactly* what is happening.
Feeding has its roots in domination and control. How can you say it's grossly inaccurate?
"...immobilizing women, and male domination is DEFINITELY not the case. Not even a little bit."
Not even a little bit? Despite, like I said, the fact that feederism is a form of domination and control, and is rooted in that? And it's not about immobilizing women? What about all the immobile art? What about the women who are so big they are bed-ridden? What about all the FA who *admit* they love the thought of immobile women?
That is not the case in the feederism culture?
Get real.
"reflection the opinions of a college student who wants to project her own thoughts and feelings onto the world."
College student? Doesn't it clearly say 'UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'? That's is not the same as college, as we can all agree on.
Nice try in trying to devalue her article, though :)
Yes, because she has the
Anonymous replied on
Yes, because she has the privilege of an elite education, let's let her say whatever she wants with no regard to academic or journalist standards. What could go wrong?"
"Also, Ivy, if you don't
Ivy replied on
"Also, Ivy, if you don't want to get judged, don't put your stuff out there."
I don't give a fuck about getting judged. I get judged every single day and I am just fine. :)
"ALL the women in the feeder-community have feeders on the sidelines encouraging to keep eating. They're called your fans and subscribers."
Hate to tell you, but I wouldn't have gained as much weight as I have just because my fans and subscribers wanted me to. I value my fans and my subscribers immensely, but not enough to completely alter my body and lifestyle for their enjoyment. What kind of weak woman do you think that I am?
"The actual percentage of women ACTUALLY wanting to become immobile for themselves, and themselves only, because they enjoy not being able to walk longer distances or taking up an entire couch on the bus, is small. Very small."
The majority of women willing to become immobile for themselves or their partner is just as small and I am not included in this minority.
"The fact that you have to call it a 'feeding relationship' already tells us the focus of the relationships were much more on the feeding than the actual relationship. That is, most likely, also the cause for them to break up. You even say so yourself...primary focus for both partners -> feeding. It sounds to me that what she wrote in her article..."claim the female body as a site for male domination and control; if the woman happens to enjoy it, that’s secondary."...is *exactly* what is happening.
Feeding has its roots in domination and control. How can you say it's grossly inaccurate?"
Right, because you know so much about what goes on in my personal life and are in any position to judge me or my relationships. What I should have written was "relationships where feeding was involved." I wrote my response a few hours after reading the article and I was very rightfully and understandably upset by it. I've never had a relationship where feederism was the primary focus and I don't feel the need to defend my personal life or myself any further. I'm not sure who you are, nor do I care, but whatever your personal issue with me is could be discussed in a much more adult way.
As far as domination and control goes, submissive feeders and dominant feedees. I don't think I need to say anymore on that.
"Not even a little bit? Despite, like I said, the fact that feederism is a form of domination and control, and is rooted in that? And it's not about immobilizing women? What about all the immobile art? What about the women who are so big they are bed-ridden? What about all the FA who *admit* they love the thought of immobile women?"
fantasy VS. reality. I was talking about reality. I should have been more clear.
"College student? Doesn't it clearly say 'UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'? That's is not the same as college, as we can all agree on.
Nice try in trying to devalue her article, though :)"
The University of Chicago is a college. University and college are used interchangeably in the US. It's a great school, but it's still a college. I was accepted there as an undergrad. I know all about the University of Chicago.
You know, Ivy, I hate to say
Whitney replied on
You know, Ivy, I hate to say it, but if you don't care about being judged, then you wouldn't have been so angry over this article and would have let it slide.
Just because she came to
Anonymous replied on
Just because she came to defend something she's a part of doesn't mean she's "offended," and all the loaded implications you jammed into that assumption, and even if she is offended, that doesn't change the fact that she's RIGHT. This article is incredibly callous and cowardly, from the illustration on down. As far as I'm concerned, she's capable of choosing how she wishes to live, and anyone who tells her she's not is anti-feminist and anti-choice.
The fact is, she could have easily cried in her room over this, but she chose instead to come here and make herself known and to state her case after being portrayed as a slovenly inhuman monster by the author of the article, and I think she did a fine job of it. That's brave.
The mummified husk who authored this biased tripe didn't even bother to talk to her. Even Bill O'Reilly, the crowned king of crass, showboating cable news hacks, has the decency to at least invite people onto his circus act before he cuts their mics. The author didn't even bother with that. What a cowardly, vindictive and spiteful move.
You folks ought to be ashamed. Even if you find her fetish gross, at least she's comfortable with herself. She puts her face out there for all to see. What's it say about you, for you to mock and spit at her until she either goes away or you move on to another target?
Hm, the whole
Anonymous replied on
Hm, the whole University/college thing interested me. According to Wikipedia:
"The University [of Chicago] consists of the College of the University of Chicago, various graduate schools and interdisciplinary committees organized into four divisions, six professional schools, and a school of continuing education."
I think the "graduate schools" qualify it, by definition, as a university.
But I could be wrong.
"...I find it funny that a
._. replied on
"...I find it funny that a self proclaimed feminist is so uptight about what other women CHOOSE to do with their own bodies..."
Sorry, but any feminist worth her salt is just going to stop listening after this point. Feminism is NOT about women always being right, and "choosing your choice" isn't a feminist act in itself. It sounds like you're trying to point out some sort of hypocrisy, but you're just revealing that you don't actually know what feminism is. If feminism just meant "women making choices", then it would be the easiest social justice movement in the world, considering we all make hundreds of them a day. I'm sorry to say, but taking pro-choice bumper sticker slogans out of context is just not a very good rhetorical strategy.
This comment has been deleted.
Anonymous replied on
No personal attacks, please. We mean it!
Thanks,
Bitch Media
"I know lots of girls who
FA-X replied on
"I know lots of girls who enjoy feederism as a solo part of their lifestyle"
Feederism, by definition, takes two people ;)
From Wikipedia: "Feederism refers to the acts of feeding, encouraging eating, or being served large quantities of food."
This implies one person doing the above to another person.
As a solo part, it's just enjoying food and gaining, which falls outside the scope of this article.
"This is a blanket statement that does not describe any of the feeders I have been involved in relationships with, nor the majority of the feedback we receive from the feeder community."
You are deluding yourself. Do you think that the feeders who are fans and those with subscriptions actually *care* about the models? Do you think they care about anything other than seeing the webmodels in question eating more and more, and subsequently gain more and more?
If they 'cared' so much, they wouldn't be pushing webmodels who have been gaining so much they have trouble doing stuff every person should be able to do (let's say...WALK) to gain even more weight.
But if you think that your typical feeder-out-to-fap-to-the-fattest-eating-webmodel-there-is is interested in your general well-being, instead of getting his fix, go ahead. Think that.
"We make make porn, not cure societal misconceptions about fat people."
And yet, here you are, defending Ivy's feederism being attacked. If you're not here to do 'damage control' regarding societal misconceptions about fat people after reading this article, what *are* you doing here?
STUPID.
"Also, it is a FANTASY. Many women have rape fantasies but that does not mean they have any interest in being assaulted in the real world."
Uh, yeah. It's a real FANTASY for the webmodels like Ivy. She's gained, what, 150 lbs?
Doesn't sound like a FANTASY to me!
More like fantasy-turned-into-real-life.
A problem with your definitions
Duniwn replied on
Wikipedia's definition of feederism in not the be all and end all. The women we are talking about and who describe themselves as "feedees" are people who gain sexual arousal from eating, and sometimes gaining.
In an earlier post, you said: "College student? Doesn't it clearly say 'UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO'? That's is not the same as college, as we can all agree on."
I don't know what country you live in, but in the USA, where the Univeristy of Chicago is located, 'college' and 'university' are interchangable terms. So clearly, we can't all agree on the basic terminology, because terms mean different things in different contexts, and sometimes two terms mean the same thing.
For feeders and feedees, feeding is about sexual expression, not necessarily domination and control. If Ivy says "In all of the feeding relationships that I have been involved in... my pleasure from the feeding has been the primary focus for both my partner and myself" that is contradictory to saying "if the woman happens to enjoy it, that’s secondary."
If the female's pleasure is primary, than obviously it is not secondary.
I agree with you that many of the subscribers to porn sites of any type are not primarily concerned with the well-being of the models, and are more concerned with their own sexual satisfaction, but that doesn't mean that compassionate caring feeders looking for real relationships aren't out there. I'm here to tell you that they are.
It is possible even, to have feeder fantasies and be in a relationship with a fat woman who is not a feedee, and merely play out feeder fantasies the way some couples would play out cowboy or fireman fantasies.
He is from the Netherlands.
Anonymous replied on
He is from the Netherlands.
RE: FA-X
Violet James replied on
I’ll clarify for you.
I’m a feedee, with or without a partner. If we’re using Wikipedia, the fast-food version of a quality source of information, then it also states “Sexual pleasure is derived from the act of eating itself, and/or from the process of becoming fatter. Pleasure may be derived from specific changes to specific areas of the body.”
“Do you think that the feeders who are fans and those with subscriptions actually *care* about the models?”
No, I don‘t think that all my fans care about my personal well-being. I also wasn’t talking about the “typical feeder-out-to-fap-to-the-fattest-eating-webmodel-there-is”. I said “the feeders I have been involved in relationships with, nor the majority of the feedback we receive from the feeder community”. I was talking about past/future boyfriends, personal relationships, and fans that I have chosen to personally correspond with. I appreciate my fans, but I’m not as stupid as you would like to think I am. I’m also not offended by those who are “out-to-fap-to-the-fattest-eating-webmodel-there-is”, it’s the nature of the beast.
“If you're not here to do 'damage control' regarding societal misconceptions about fat people after reading this article, what *are* you doing here?
STUPID.”
I said, “It is not my concern to be a role model, or a fatty pride waving activist. We make porn, not cure societal misconceptions about fat people,” in response to the author’s idea that “while the presence of obese bodies in porn could be encouraging and radical under different circumstances, feeding porn’s gender dynamics undercut that potential.”…
Also, the article is about “The transgressive, disturbing world of 'feeding' porn”. I make feeding porn. I make a lot of feeding porn with Ivy. I defended my work in several paragraphs. I also defended my friend/colleague in two paragraphs, and my fetish in one or two. The author is obviously free to use Ivy as an example, but that does not make it something that I support when she paints an inaccurate picture of what actually is involved.
“Uh, yeah. It's a real FANTASY for the webmodels like Ivy. She's gained, what, 150 lbs? Doesn't sound like a FANTASY to me! More like fantasy-turned-into-real-life.”
The paragraph you quoted was talking about immobility more so than weight gain, but it is possible to have the fetish with or without gaining. From Wikipedia, your aforementioned source, “A maintainer is one sympathetic to the gaining community, who has intentionally or unintentionally put on weight and is happy to remain at that size, or is reluctant to gain more.” Immobility is a fantasy of some. Weight gain is a fantasy of some. Webmodels like Ivy and myself choose to make it a reality, nobody is twisting our arms, and we know and accept the consequences that follow. I have intentionally gained with and without feeders, and I started long before I became a webmodel. When we decide we’ve hit our limit in weight-gain, we can stop before becoming immobile, but still fantasize about it.
Disappointment
Jess I. replied on
I am appalled at your use of Ivy as a subject without so much as contacting her. As a friend of both her and Violet, reading this article was a strange experience for me. It's like you cut and pasted Ivy's name into something that really doesn't apply to her. The misunderstanding of this culture just radiates from this "piece" (a term that I am using loosely at this point), and it bothers me that the readers of Bitch who previously did not know about it may use this as a source of information. It bothers me that a publication such as Bitch would write something like this, but I don't think it's the first time. I've seen articles where the author struggles to accept that some women choose to and WANT to take traditional female roles. Now, it's sort of the other side. The author is struggling with something more extreme. I wasn't aware feminists came in a certain package, Bitch. Aren't we supposed to just be free to lead our own lives without fear of scrutiny? At the very least, a retraction should be published. Or, y'know, you could actually TALK TO YOUR SUBJECTS.
Misinformation
Aletha Milam replied on
You could've spared your readers a great deal of misinformation if you'd simply taken a few moments to contact Ivy and interview her about her work. As someone who knows Ivy, I can assure the readers of Bitch that she, her work, and her lifestyle were completely misrepresented by this article. And as someone who shares her penchant for being fed, I can also say being a feedee is a self-motivated choice for many single women, including myself. Fat women are severely stigmatized in our media-driven, weight obsessed culture. This article did nothing except to further promote that stigma and castigate a few brave pioneers who have found a way to make a living while breaking down the negative stereotypes that fat women are unsexual, undesirable, and unworthy of pleasure. Shame on you, Bitch Magazine.
Stop the "bitch"fest
Anonymous replied on
Ok really, this blog has become Ivy's little fan section, where the people posting are completely biased against the author of the article because of their friendship with her. The author even posted that Ivy was used only as an example, and not all of her statements pertained to her.
You accuse the author of lazy journalism? She cites multiple sources and delves into the psychology of the subject in a compelling manner; just because you do not agree with her assessment does not mean she was lazy. It is a well-written, informed article, and you have no right to attack her credibility on the matter. She has clearly done research and, as a non-400lb woman, is clearly coming at the subject from a different place than you are.
As far as not asking permission to write about Ivy--where is it written that permission must be granted to write about someone who is publicly showcasing her body for anyone and everyone to see? Even if a defamation suit was brought, it would be immediately deposed, because the subject is choosing to reveal herself in a much more public light than this article does.
It's unfortunate that there are people that cannot understand that there are differing opinions in the world. This country allows Ivy to put herself on display in a way that many people would find disturbing or disgusting; if that is how she and others here feel about this article, then they should learn to extend the same tolerance for alternate opinions that is granted to them and their activities.
Anonymous, I agree with
Whitney replied on
Anonymous, I agree with you.
Some people only hear and read what they want to hear and read. She did cite multiple sources, but apparently some people are just too lazy to read and take in the author's explanation. Or they just would rather see her as a hater and not bother to look into her sources. Or you're just too stupid to realize it's called an *analysis*!
And NO, a YouTube comment was not used as a source. It's called an example, people!
And why should the author have to contact "Ivy" before writing this? She was used as an example. You put yourself out in the public eye, prepare to be analyzed, scrutinized, chastised, made fun of, praised, everything. She put herself on the internet. The author was merely using her work as a catalyst for the article, and no, she did NOT say that "Ivy" participates in what she describes. Seriously people. But then again, all of the "haters" would rather just see the author as this evil bitch who's criticizing their lifestyle.
And personally, this whole genre of porn just disgusts me (as does most porn). As someone with a weight problem trying to get healthy, this really offends me. And as a cancer survivor, I've learned that your health is so important, and without your health, you're dead. So "Ivy", with your "craft" you're just leading yourself into an early grave, and the people that watch and encourage this kind of behavior disgusts me as well. There is nothing empowering about this, just as there is nothing that empowering about doing mainstream porn.
I am so sorry that your
Anonymous replied on
I am so sorry that your obvious insecurity as a woman of size and your own insecurity with your own sexuality has caused you to be unable to handle that some women may be happy in their bodies and their sexualities. What a sad life you must lead.
Researched? Partially
Duniwin replied on
Anonymous, you raise some good points. Some of the posters are getting very personally involved in this, as might be expected when they, their friends and their sexuality are portrayed in a way that misrepresents the whole picture. You are right that Ms. Hester has done research and is likely to come to different opinions. I respect her opinions and her right to express them, however, I have less tolerance for misrepresented facts.
I found the author's first paragraph and the three containing links to reference materiel to be very well written and I personally disagree with nothing there. The second paragraph and the final two, however, were not so well researched.
The issue with the second paragraph is that bbwpinups.com and bigcuties.com are not strictly speaking "feeding porn" as is suggested but not explicitly stated. Both sites are modeling sites staring fat women. Neither website depicts and sex acts or open-leg nude shots, and big cuties does not even require models to do any topless posing. It can still be considered porn, but there is even less of a tie to feeding. Many or the models and subscribers are not interested in feeding or weight gain at all and simple want to see fat women in the same poses as mainstream supermodels like Tyra Banks. There are sites devoted exclusively to feeding, no doubt, but the two site mentioned are not such places.
The final two paragraphs go off base with the un-cited assumption that "men are central to the eroticized dominance and submission that’s performed in feeding pornography." As Tami mentioned for bbwpinups, and as is the case for bigcuties.com as well, these are female owned and operated businesses. Many women do this for themselves, even and perhaps especially those women for whom being a feedee is part of their lifestyle.
My intention is not to personally attack anyone for the misinformed views that they hold. I merely wish to spread some factual information. This article struck a raw nerve, since Ms. Hester is not the first person (outside <i>or inside</i> of the size acceptance community) to equate plus size modeling with feeding porn or to equate feeding fantisies abuse / immobility. Unfortunately, I doubt she will be the last.
Sources
Duniwin replied on
Just to clarify, verification of my statements about the content of bbwpinups.com and bigcuties.com can be found on the respective model info links, just a click away from the homepage on each site.
<a href="http://www.bigcuties.com/wannamodel.htm"></a>
<a href="http://www.bbwpinups.com/modelinfopage.htm"></a>
What did you expect? The
Matt Seegz replied on
What did you expect? The article makes unsubstantiated claims about a real person without even consulting them. Do you not expect friends to stick up for one another? Wouldn't you do the same thing if your friends were in this situation?
-"She cites multiple sources and delves into the psychology of the subject in a compelling manner;"
Which means diddly-shit without the voice of the subject she's writing about. Without that input, she's relying on the time-honored journalistic tradition of "making assumptions."
But I guess when the author thinks fatties don't deserve the same respect as everyone else...
-"where is it written that permission must be granted to write about someone who is publicly showcasing her body for anyone and everyone to see? Even if a defamation suit was brought, it would be immediately deposed, because the subject is choosing to reveal herself in a much more public light than this article does."
Lawyer talk. Typical.
It's proper conduct for a reporter to speak to both sides of an issue, unless Jessica's taking tips from Fox News. You want to sound vindictive and biased against fat people, this was a damn good way to go about it. This is nothing but a smear campaign, and it's shameful.
-"It's unfortunate that there are people that cannot understand that there are differing opinions in the world."
Get off your horse, Hannity. An opinion isn't worth much when it's uninformed and you don't even bother to make yourself informed. Opinions aren't worth much to begin with. You're not a super-special snowflake just because you can make flagrant assumptions about people. Become acquainted with those people, and then I might care about your opinion.
"This country allows Ivy to put herself on display in a way that many people would find disturbing or disgusting; if that is how she and others here feel about this article, then they should learn to extend the same tolerance for alternate opinions that is granted to them and their activities."
"Punish the people who don't fall in line, and if they can't handle that punishment, they should get used to it because we deem them to be freaks."
Oh hello privileged majority logic, with shades of domination fetishism. It's disturbing to see that kind of rationalization for intolerance on a site that is supposed to be feministic. Where the hell do you get off calling the shots like you own the joint? I may be disturbed by some fetishes out there, but the LAST thing I'm going to do is vent my utter contempt and hatred for something I don't understand, because I know that those people catch shit from you uncompromising prudish normals, same as I do.
And chances are fantastic that you have a super secret fetish, too. And somewhere out there in this wild and crazy world, there's someone who's performing your kinks and you're sitting there, watching and drooling at it.
Freak. :)
Journalistic Ethics...do you have any?
Tami replied on
Hello,
I am the webmaster of http://www.bbwpinups.com as well as one of the models on the site. I have known Ivy since 2004, and have worked with her in the past. Worked with meaning, I used to be her webmaster, and I have also modeled with her in many pictorials and videos. So, seeing as I have known this fine woman going on 6 years now, I am appalled by the misinformation presented in this article.
I could sit here and type until my fingers fall off about how you misrepresent the BBW Modeling community and feederism, but would if fall on deaf ears? Your lack of reliable sources leads me to believe it would be. So I will merely echo what my friends and collegues have said: Feeder porn very rarely includes a man behind the scenes. Big Cuties, BBW Pinups, and Ivy's current website, HotFattyGirl.com, are all female produced and maintained. Many who gain do so because they choose to. Not all BBW Models are gainers, however. Also, I would like to say that since you posted my site, BBW Pinups, I need to clarify something. Not all the models on pinup pose with food. Those that do, are doing just that...posing. Yes, we often indulge in the food, but of our own free will...and sometimes, you know what? We don't clean our plate. We don't eat it ALL. That's the beauty of still photography.
In closing, I would like to direct your attention to a website that should surely interest you, since you fancy yourself a journalist. It's the Society for Professional Journalists web page on the Code of Journalistic Ethics. Please review it, in fact, please download the PDF they provide and review it everytime you sit down to write an "article". http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Tami
I think the issue most
Anonymous replied on
I would not have minded
Ivy replied on
Of the people I sent it to,
hotfattygirl replied on
Of the people I sent it to, one person replied to the article on here. I explicitly asked another person to not reply since he was so heated about the situation. I did NOT send it for them expecting them to reply, I sent it because I was obviously pissed off at the situation and wanted to talk about it with them since I value their opinions. I also wanted to know if I was off base or overreacting by feeling the way that I did before replying to the article.
Misconceptions
Reenaye Starr replied on
Firstly, let me say that as a fellow BBW Model, I am appalled on Ivy's behalf. If only you had spoken with her, you might have been able to paint a more realistic picture of her lifestyle and body of work. As a fellow journalist and expert on the subject of feederism (I write an informative monthly column on this subject) I can confidently say that you are peddling nothing more than misinformation and a skewed perspective.
Feederism is a lifestyle choice made by the women involved. The fact that you stated that somewhere there is a man standing off camera forcibly creating this overeating scenario is ridiculous. If you knew anything about this industry, you would know that many of us have female photographers, often other webmodel ladies. You would also understand that just like any other industry, you do what sells. So eating, and rubbing your belly and saying how full you are... All of these things may excite the performer, since as in Ivy's case and mine, we are into the feedee lifestyle, but they are also part of a good performance. It's about knowing your audience and what they want to see.
It really intrigues me that you attack this issue from some sort of concern for women's liberation, yet I cannot see anything more liberating than being comfortable in your body, no matter the shape. If you are to attack the feederism lifestyle, should you not also attack the concept that a woman needs to be thin to be beautiful. How many women who work out 5 times a week, do it because they enjoy it? Many of them may be doing it to please a spouse or mate. But I understand that it is easier to attack fat culture, because it seems different or outside of the norm to you.
My advice to you is simple. Next time you choose to write an article on a subject matter that you know nothing about, do your research. Go to the source.
"You would also understand
FA-X replied on
"You would also understand that just like any other industry, you do what sells. So eating, and rubbing your belly and saying how full you are..."
Thank you. That's a perfect reason why models (like Ivy) are gaining; it sells.
I don't buy "I'm doing it for me" for one second, seeing how being as big as Ivy or even bigger tends to hamper the things you're actually able to do (like movie-theatre seats being too small, or walking to the mall which is a mile down the road).
I produce the content that I
Ivy replied on
I produce the content that I produce because it sells and it is what people want to see.
I gain because I want to. I don't mind the few limitations that it has given me so far (some are rather enjoyable) and so I continue to gain. I have always openly stated that I will stop when my health or mobility becomes an issue.
Feederism is NOT just weight gain. I have known lots of people who are into feederism and they/their partners never gain a single pound intentionally. They do role playing and that is enough for them. The same can be said of the models who opt to do feederism related photos and videos without ever actively trying to gain weight. . I could very easily do that, but I don't because I want to gain.
As someone who is
Whitney replied on
As someone who is successfully losing weight, exercising, and getting healthier, how on earth is it liberating to be obese? How on earth is it liberating to be so winded after walking a flight of stairs? How on earth is it liberating to have chest pain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, etc?
it may be liberating to be happy with your body, but it sure as hell isn't liberating to be digging yourself into an early grave.
*I* feel liberated because I am not a slave to food anymore. I feel liberated because it's easier for me to work out and for longer. I feel liberated because I won't die early due to me being overweight.
Opinions of my own thanks
JJ<3 replied on
My comments and feelings on the matter would be the same no matter who the model/example was.
You claim to have read books on the issue... are you retarded? The matter at hand is an ever changing and evolving beast. A book written 6months ago would be almost irrelevant by now.
Also as many stated, it's a little thing called acting. It's been done by people in porn SINCE DAY ONE.
As many have stated, if you were "just using ivy as an example", then perhaps you should have used an ACCURATE example, since everything you said about her was false and thus rendering the "point" you were trying to make irrelevant. You cannot prove the sky is purple by siting a photo shopped image in which the sky is purple when so many clearly know it's blue.
Also your reaction to all the comments, including name calling and downright nastiness just goes to further lower our opinions of you, and show your severe lack of professionalism. I am sure you must be some young little doe walking in the woods, excited for the world and thinking everything will lay down at your feet, but never forget, bears live in those woods too. If you cannot handle the criticism, GET OUT NOW.
You cannot win a jury case with false "examples", do NOT for a second think you will convince a tight knit community who has known it's members and models for DECADES will ever believe what you're saying.
Also i am SHOCKED that a so called feminist assumes that someone like myself, A WOMAN, has no opinion on a matter simply because i know Ivy. Ivy did NOT ask me to say anything, she didn't even tell me directly about it. Someone else mentioned it and i took a look for myself. Upon reading THE ENTIRE ARTICLE i was so furious with your misrepresentation and falsehoods that i chose ON MY OWN, AS AN ADULT WOMAN, WITH MY OWN MIND AND OPINIONS to post in response. I would have done the same regardless of whom the "story" was about since i disagree with more than just what was said in regards to ms.Ivy.
With the way you put so much power into the men's hands in this article.... when that is so far from the case, it leads me to picture you walking around in an apron serving dinner to some slob and then venting, using the bbw community as an outlet, later on the internet. Sad imagery really.
- false "examples" to prove "points" that also are not accurate
- no professionalism or capability in handling criticism
- no future in the dog eat dog world that is journalism....
"... are you retarded?" You
FA-X replied on
"... are you retarded?"
You just took the discussion to a name-calling fest. Nice going there. Usually people resort to calling other people 'retarded' because they feel powerless. Is this the case here?
"A book written 6months ago would be almost irrelevant by now."
I'm sure that feeder psychology changes drastically every 6 months. :S
"Also as many stated, it's a little thing called acting. It's been done by people in porn SINCE DAY ONE."
I don't think gaining as much as Ivy has, or other webmodels who are gaining huge amounts of weight, could be categorized as 'acting'. Don't you?
"Also your reaction to all the comments, including name calling and downright nastiness just goes to further lower our opinions of you, and show your severe lack of professionalism."
What the flying f*** are you talking about? If anything, Ivy & co. are doing the nastiness, most of all - YOU. Remember the 'are you retarded' comment you made in this very post?
"If you cannot handle the criticism, GET OUT NOW."
You should say this to every offended webmodel in here. They get a realistic view of what the outside (outside of the community) people would think stumbling across the feeder-community, and actually analyses it perfectly. Upon hearing the cold, hard truth, all the webmodels & friends come in all angry and trying to 'save' Ivy. If anything, that indicates hypocrisy on the part of Ivy's friends, since they clearly think that Ivy cannot handle the criticism on her own.
"do NOT for a second think you will convince a tight knit community who has known it's members and models for DECADES will ever believe what you're saying."
Tightly knit? Oh yes, it is SO tightly knit, that models fuck other models over behind their backs, Dimensions people don't like Curvage people, and webmasters accuse other webmasters of stealing their (utterly generic) designs. REAL tight knit there.
And knowing it's models for decades? How long has Ivy been in the community? 6 years? Or you, Juicy? A year? Name me one community model in your and Ivy's age range that has been in the community for more than 10 years. And even if you do, that's 1 model.
"Also i am SHOCKED that a so called feminist assumes that someone like myself, A WOMAN, has no opinion on a matter simply because i know Ivy. Ivy did NOT ask me to say anything, she didn't even tell me directly about it. Someone else mentioned it and i took a look for myself. Upon reading THE ENTIRE ARTICLE i was so furious with your misrepresentation and falsehoods that i chose ON MY OWN, AS AN ADULT WOMAN, WITH MY OWN MIND AND OPINIONS to post in response. I would have done the same regardless of whom the "story" was about since i disagree with more than just what was said in regards to ms.Ivy."
Holy fuckballs. You seem like an angry, crazy lunatic with no control over her life, and therefore flips out over an article like this. Seek help.
As a male feeder, you do not speak for me.
Charlie replied on
I am a male, and I am one of the select few who takes sexual pleasure in feeding women and watching them grow fatter. This having been said, I take GREAT offense at your laughably misinformed statement of: "Feeders get off on the idea that their feedee might one day become too “satisfied”—and too obese—to move, thus making them completely dependent on their feeder. It’s an extreme manifestation of the idea that masculinity in men involves eroticized dominance over women."
Although it is true that I enjoy seeing women gain weight and large amounts of it, I would never feed a woman so much that she becomes sick, I would never fatten a woman to a point where her health is in danger, and I most certainly would NEVER force a woman to immobility against her will. And as a male who spends large amounts of time in various feeder/feedee internet groups, sites, message boards, etc, I don't know who many males who would oppose my point of view.
See, as hard as it may be beyond the collective understanding of your narrow-minded "journalistic" crew, but most male feeders hold women in very high esteem and hold nothing but respect for them.
The next time you seek to write an article which is little more than a thinly veiled attack upon people who live a lifestyle which you do not understand, please do your fact-checking first.
I will be sure to tell every femaleI know, fat and thin, to steer clear of your publication, both online and in print.
Confused as to the Offense of this Article.
Fellow web-model. replied on
I would like to leave a few comments about the article and the comments left by some obviously offended girls.
First of all, as a member of the BBW community myself, I can say that I find this article well-written and informative. There are a few holes, such as the one made where it is said that all feeders ultimately want to see their girls immobile (it's true that some do, but certainly not all and not the majority), but all-in-all I find the article to be quite observant to the mechanics of the feedee/web-model business. This article was written from an outsider's point-of-view and not an insiders, and I find it very true to what the business looks like from the outside world (it's more blunt and raw). Like it or not girls, that *is* what we are doing, it's just not been glamorized like it is inside the BBW community.
I'm reading the comments from friends of Ivy's/upset BBW community members, and I have to say that I'm rather embarrassed for my community after reading these. There is nothing written in this article that is a reason to get so upset over. This is an informative article and publicity, people. If you have a website and promote certain things, do not retort and get offended when what you do is being observed and written about. If you're a public feedee and then get offended by having it pointed out, then maybe you shouldn't be doing what you are doing.
I really wish that the people in the BBW community wouldn't jump to react and defend something that was not written to offend, but to educate. If you are a web-model and you engage yourself in feedee-like material, act or not, be proud of who you are what you do and what you stand for. All this bitching at this article just reflects how insecure most of the BBW community is with what they do, and that's not something I support.
Also, you do not require permission to use public names or general info as material for an article. You need permission for real names and copyright/privately owned photographs, videos or other media.
Not every article written is going to sprinkle glitter on what we do. We need to get real about it and accept that. What we do is a break in normal societal behavior, and with that title you need a thick skin, confidence in yourself and a positive attitude. Let people observe and write about it all they want so that more and more become at least slightly educated. Not everyone is going to like it, understand it or agree with it, but that's no reason to hide from it.
I think it's great that this feminist magazine decided to spotlight a very young and avid feedee from the community and this girl should be proud and not offended. If anything at least this gives you plenty more publicity, girl. And all publicity is good publicity in the face of business, right?
Just some food for THOUGHT this time.
Apologies for the tri-post,
Anonymous replied on
Apologies for the tri-post, whoops!
I agree with the previous poster
Anonymous replied on
I have to agree with the previous poster. I do see some misconceptions on the feeder/feedee relationships but other than that, what else can we expect people to write? Ivy's site has pictures and videos of her tied up getting force fed and actively gaining weight. And these videos ARE for feeders and people who enjoy the thought of this young girl eating and getting bigger.
The writer doesn't see this type of porn as something that turns her on. Why are we all surprised? This is a selective fetish that not even all men and women who like fat people are into. Ivy's site is public, and she herself promotes it publicly. This is purely someone writing on the subject backed up with more research and examples than just a couple of youtube videos as some have stated.
It's so interesting that so many paysite models take "pride" in their work, their gaining and their sexuality, and the minute it's discussed outside of the community for unbiased views to comment on, they are quick to attack the comments. So you can bast them on a public site for not liking or understanding your choices, but they can't make comments about you and your choices? If you were really confident in what you do, you wouldn't need to attack. Anything written back in a calm matter to just inform where there is misinformation is all that is and was needed. But apparently that can't happen.
Paysite models probably wouldn't even be making these videos if there weren't people out there paying for them or encouraging them. The quote "The feeders who, off-camera, forcibly coax a female performer like Ivy to gorge posit themselves as masters on whom she is dependent for instruction and encouragement" may not be true in the sense that there is no real male on the other side of that camera, but you have fans who pay you money for videos of what THEY request and want you to do. They are the metaphoric man on the other side of the camera.
I am a paysite model as well and I think it's sad to just come over and attack a paper that while has some flaws, is in not way going to hurt business for Ivy. It will get people looking at her site more as well as BigCuties and BBWPinups. Everyone who comments on Ivy's behalf are coming off pissy rather than proving any point. I also agree in no way was permission needed to use your paysite name. The writer never said they talked to you and made up some fake conversation. Ivy was simply an example.
Ivy if you want to write a paper on what is and isn't actually true about feederism then you are always welcome to do so for people to read. But when all you have is your website, clips4sale, myspace, and twitter that has you talking about eating all the time, getting fatter and MANY videos and pictures of you or someone guesting on your site being forcibly fed, or force feeding you why do you think people assume this is what feederism is?
"The feeders who, off-camera,
George L. replied on
"The feeders who, off-camera, forcibly coax a female performer like Ivy to gorge posit themselves as masters on whom she is dependent for instruction and encouragement" may not be true in the sense that there is no real male on the other side of that camera, but you have fans who pay you money for videos of what THEY request and want you to do. They are the metaphoric man on the other side of the camera.
while this is true about the metaphoric man, the author was not talking about it in that sense, which is one of the problems with this crap. i respect all the feedees i've been with, as well as my current gf, but in bed we like to roleplay these situations. i didn't think i was a bad guy agreeing and enjoying situations of forcefeeding and food play that my girlfriend suggests just as much as i do.
hi plump princess!
Anonymous replied on
hi plump princess!
Thoughts on our goals
Tiffany replied on
What's most disturbing about Hester's article is that it's one of those poorly-done incendiary political pieces that causes a stir of trouble and controversy, but does nothing to heighten or renew a feminist debate about feeder porn. Many fat- and not-fat feminist women have been talking about the implications of the "scene" for many years. I'm not sure Hester, in her freshman attempt for Bitch, was the best situated to bring the debate to the next level.
We could go on for hours about whether or not an article about fat porn needs to contact a model used as an example. I tend to think, out-of-context, no. Models are well aware that they have commercialized identities, separate from themselves, that will be critiqued.
However, Hester failed to do enough work, and was a lazy academic writer, sourcing only literature that upheld her feminism, not informed by any conversations with the women involved. I am not a by-the-books feminist. I do not think we can have thesis that are unproven, and I trust women's lived experiences to create a road map for our theory. As such, I'm not an academic, and would've trusted Hester's voice and authenticity if she had approached this as a journalist - rather than a academic. Even for opinion pieces, we have to make sure we've asked the right questions.
Why didn't Hester do a survey of the industry and get a sense of how many models manage their own sites and how many have active male managers or feeders? Certainly she was curious enough?
As I type, I know that I'm being too unfair to academia. No good academician makes statements without interviewing subjects.
As a fat feminist, I hear some of Hester's points, and I believe that we can, and need, to critique this industry from a feminist viewpoint. We HAVE to analyze how selling sex to men impacts women.
However, many fat feminists before me have noted, as I will now, that the way fat is sensationalized, dissected, and hated by thin feminists never makes us feel welcome to the conversation. And, ladies, you need us. You need us to understand this phenomenon that at quick-glance looks like a worst nightmare. You need us to help navigate this rocky and emotional terrain. Feederism is hard to swallow, and I would never ask that anyone just accept it. There's a lot to fear, and a lot of women to fear for.
However, it's a lot more complicated than Hester and other contemporaries have made it.
Tiffany
www.tiffanyten.net
Keep it civil, folks.
Andi Zeisler replied on
We expected that this piece would be somewhat controversial, and as Jessica’s editor I would like to clarify a few things. Before I do, though, I want to remind all of you to keep it civil. No calling others “retarded,” or a “moron”; no lashing out at the author as a “child writer.” We are all adults, and should be able to have a reasonable conversation even if there’s disagreement. We don’t want to have to close the comments, but if the attacks keep up that’s exactly what we’ll do.
Now. Jessica’s piece was not meant to be an in-depth, overarching look at the culture of Fat Admiration, or of BBW modeling sites, or even of the psychology of feeders and feedees. What it is is one piece in a larger package of pieces (published in the print magazine) about the intersections between women, food, and representation. It is also an opinion piece. Jessica is not ethically bound to represent every facet of Ivy’s life and work; she is also not required to talk with Ivy. Could the piece have been more dimensional with Ivy’s own input? Sure. The piece could also have included the insight of dozens of others – scholars, performers, artists, health advocates. It doesn’t, because — again — it’s not an in-depth piece of journalism, but rather an opinion piece.
And as for those opinions: I would encourage those of you who have identified yourselves as in the FA or BBW communities to not assume that Jessica disapproves of your lifestyle simply because she’s not doing backflips of glee about it. She approached the subject from the standpoint of looking at the transgressive nature of feeding in a society that prizes thinness in women — as she writes, “To publicly eat when you’re already fat might be one of the most transgressive behaviors available to the modern woman” — and in no way offers a blanket condemnation. If you don’t subscribe to her viewpoint, or her conclusions, that’s fine. But that doesn’t mean they are invalid. Can we agree that rational minds can disagree? Great. Thanks.
Commenting on this should be
Anonymous replied on
Commenting on this should be closed and any personal attacks should be deleted. This is getting outrageous for no reason at all.
Obviously
Kelly replied on
If you hadn't noticed this isn't going to get any better and they comments won't stop unless you stop it.
Please for the sake of everyone, close the comments and/or remove them.
None of this is beneficial to anyone, in fact it's only hurt people.
Is that what Bitch Magazine stands for? Because right now it looks like it's just another place to pass judgment on people who are different from yourself.
sexism from bitch?
thighs replied on
Andie-
I found the line "if the woman happens to enjoy it, that’s secondary" in especially poor taste for an op-ed (now this is an opinion piece huh?) piece on any kind of fetish. I didn't know a woman can be secondary to her own fantasies. That said, this comments thread is trashy egomania. Complete Jerry Springer.
Andi, Sloppy research
hotfattygirl replied on
Andi,
Sloppy research aside, the article essentially suggests that a woman is not able to define her own sexuality. The article suggests that any woman claiming to have a fetish is only involved in the fetish because she is being controlled by men. This is incredibly sexist and flawed.
Further, the comment section here has turned into a mess of all kinds of name calling, personal attacks and general disrespect. The conversation here has been derailed and is rather embarrassing. The only place I see any of this going from here is down. I personally think that the comment section should be closed and that any name calling posts directed at both the author of the article and the people commenting in this section should be deleted.
This will be my last post in here as I have nothing left to say about the article itself.
Ivy
Wow dude...
KatieD replied on
This sounds so disturbing...it's an extension of the pyschological bondage in porn through food. The way the 'feedee' becomes dependent on the 'feeder' really is disturbing beyond words...
AHHHHH
Anonymous replied on
Ignorance is bliss, isnt it?
yeah...
thighs replied on
as a feeder let me clear that up for you. (not that it's any of your business, but since you've already formed an opinion)
like you or anyone else you know, i'd obviously put my partner's health before my erection. we're not just incompetent idiots who don't know how to treat women just because something weird gets our dick hard. most of us have to reconcile unrealistic fantasies of SUPERFAT PILLOW WOMEN with the reality that we want a partner who can bathe herself and go out and do things and have a normal life. my girlfriend is beautiful, round-bellied, soft, physically active, very conscientious of her health and cholesterol, and enjoys being fucked from behind with her face down in a big dessert and being told what a naughty little piggy she is - the same way those in the bdsm community enjoy spanking or choking or humiliation. this is during bedtime. of course i treat with respect otherwise, i love her.
it SHOULD go without saying that most people who practice this fetish are smart, communicative, consenting adults, but sensationalistic articles like this one that present us like a freakshow will understandably give you the wrong idea. i feel bad for this author for attempting to make her capital through sensationalizing other people's private lives. there is enough fear in this country without bitch's readership worrying about what i do naked with cupcakes.
i'd also like to point out that most (not all, but most) "feedee" webmodels do not necessarily practice this fetish, but seize on the easiness of videoing themselves pigging out to make $. i don't begrudge them for it, but from the inarticulate bull session that ivy and cohort hath wrought to this comments space, you can see why we'd rather not have them representing an entire community of fetishists.
i hope you're all well and having great sex, thank you for considering this uh, "insider's" opinion.
Male Feeder/ FA perspective
Mike replied on
Hi, I just wanted to add my two cents to this debate as a man who is both sexually aroused by the things described in this article and a man who has also taken a few women's studies courses and can understand how this could be misconstrued by people who read this magazine(which I personally feel is the best available widely read Feminist magazine, much better than "Bust" for instance) who don't subscribe to this particular fetish. I don’t want to attack anyone or belittle anyone, so I'll just use my personal experience to illustrate my *personal* experience with this fetish in the hopes that it will be in some way enlightening.
In most cartoons there is usually a sequence where a character eats so much that they grow(either in only belly or all over) to immense proportions. For whatever reason, these images became erotic to me, (Dan Savage has a great explanation of this btw) and that has carried over into adulthood. I can’t honestly tell you how many times I’ve been incredibly embarrassed by how aroused I become from casually seeing something like this. There are many examples that I could name off the top of my head: almost any episode of “Garfield the Cat”, “Eek the Cat’s” girlfriend Annabelle, the scene from “Charlotte’s Web” with the rat gorging himself after the end of the carnival, the big bad wolf from “Little Red Riding Hood” gobbling people up whole, “Slimer” from “Ghostbusters” etc. My point is that, *for me*, the source of my fetish is not in “hidden societal taboos” or anything to do with “unconscious desires” or anything as silly and Freudian as that, rather, just like the person who experienced corporal punishment or spankings as a child and goes on to enjoy those same things as a consenting, rational adult, I also was imprinted with a desire for something that has nothing to do with the literal sex act, but is, nonetheless, erotic to me.
So, now I’m an adult male who is attracted to the larger female form but still has these desires, do I actually wish to feed(or in my case, passively watch) my partner until they can no longer move? No, and I don’t expect them to grow to immense, godzilla-like dimensions either. Do I read *fantasy* stories that depict such scenarios? Yes. Much like the often misunderstood “S/M” fetish I can see how the feeder fetish seems outlandish, exploitative, and scary to people who don’t have any personal experience with it, but by simply asking a person who has that particular fetish and incorporates it into their healthy, active sex life one finds that that is not the case, and the woman(or man) involved is not a victim or a damsel in distress, but usually a person who is very in touch and happy with their sexual desires.
I guess I’m just bummed out by this article simply because I would love to see an actual article that addresses this fetish and I’ve become accustomed to seeing that level of research and care from past Bitch articles. The moderator has already pointed out that this is merely an opinion piece, and I take that point, but this article reminds me of out-dated sociological studies where the researcher goes into a culture without speaking the language(sometimes literally!) and comes away with a perspective that would appall the members of that culture with it’s emphasis on the “scary” and “exotic” . While I don’t mean to compare the experience of feeders to that of tribes exploited by racist archaeologists, it’s rather disheartening to this male, feminist feeder that with a large, popular, and free website with scads of resource material from actual participants upon which to balance any prospective article on the misunderstood fetish of feederism available at the FIRST page of a quick google search for “feeder” the author declined to include actual first-person accounts of this fetish and choose to stick with sensationalism and articles that have, *in my opinion*, little, or nothing to do with Feederism.
I don’t claim to speak for other “Feeders” or “Feedees”, or “Foodies”, or “FA’s” or “FFA’s” or “Feeder/FA’s” or anyone else in the complex universe of feeding or fat fetishes, but *I, for one*, do not wish to actually feed my partner into immobility or wish any harm to come to them. I love the idea however, of a fat girl loving her larger body while enjoying ice cream and then allowing me to rub her belly afterwards and feeling sexy and loved the whole time. That also is “Feeding”. The whole point of it, *for me* is that she enjoys: eating, food, and esp. eating fattening food on her OWN accord, regardless of my feelings about it and asking for no input one way or another. That's the erotic part for me. "Garfield" never asked "John" how he felt about his eating habits, neither did the "big bad wolf", "Slimer", or any other character from my childhood cartoons and films. The sexy part, *for me* was how confident and in control of their own eating habits and their feelings about those habits these characters are. This has carried into my adult life, and seeing a sexy, confident fat girl eat a hamburger with no shame and obvous relish is the height of hot * for me*. An obviously scared, or disinterested woman doing the same thing produces quite the opposite reaction. As a male who has struggled with accepting his desire for the fat female form in the face of much ingrained fat phobia (in both my home growing up and in society at large) the caring and interested people I’ve met on feeder forums have actually really helped me to come out with my desires and get past my fat phobia to see fat girls for the gorgeous women that they are, and articles that sensationalize the admittedly cartoonish and strange customs of a fetish like this do nothing to help.
great comment
Shel replied on
thank you so much for sharing! As one of those Bitch readers who might have misconstrued the article I really appreciate your story and explanation of feeding.
Dan Savage article
Lauren replied on
Hi Mike,
I'm a feedee and enjoyed your comment in response to the article. I have tried looking for that Dan Savage article you mentioned, to no avail. Could you possibly forward it to me? It would be much appreciated. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Lauren
Zidel333 AT gmail DOT com
Shoot!
Mike replied on
I actually can't find it! I'm really sorry. It was in a letter where the writer was ashamed about his/her(now I can't remember) fetish and wanted advice on how to get rid of it. I tried a quick "Dan Savage, how can I get rid of my fetish?" search on google to try and find the original, but I couldn't find the original that I remember reading. I wish I could have helped more, sorry! Now I feel kinda silly.
awesome comment
Kitty Stryker replied on
Mike- awesome comment, really sums up how the feeder/feedee fetish is for some people I know. It reminds me of trying to explain furry to people who aren't into it, and having them think furry meant full fur suit and only full fur suit when technically a person who likes to behave like an animal (purring, nuzzling etc) and likes to wear cat ears and a cat tail could also be called a furry. It seems like that way about feeders/feedees- you have the extreme end, and that's what people focus on, but if I like to lick custard off my lover and feel him nuzzle my belly, that could also constitute feeder/feedee, right?
I think this article had some merit. For some, fetishes can be reflections of upsetting societal values or personal issues. Someone who has, say, a kink for rape play here and there, sure, ok. But someone who can only have sex when it feels like being raped? I would be curious why, and I would honestly wonder if that was influenced in part by living in an entitlement culture that sexualizes rape. Why correlation is not equal to causation, they are sometimes interlinked and it's not a ridiculous thing to want to explore that possibility.
However, as a sex worker and porn performer myself, I understand that people *can* write articles without talking to me. However, I make myself really accessible so that it's easy for them to get in touch with me and ask me questions. If a media source *chooses* not to get in touch with me when I'm that accessible, it just looks poorly on them. Why not talk to someone who has this kink? You only wouldn't if your interest was not to understand, but, on some level, pathologize. :/
I'm saddened by this article, for many reasons
Anonymous replied on
This is a very poorly constructed argument. The author, while impressing her opinion, has done nothing to introduce other arguments, or any pro-feeding rhetoric. While this particular kink is NOT my favorite and I have many issues with IT as well, I have talked to many people both feedees and feeders and have done my homework to be able to feel comfortable with this fetish being around me. What concerns me most is that there are some points in this article that are outright outrageous.
"The ultimate (if generally unattained) goal of the relationship is for the feedee to become immobile, and this eventual incapacitation is fetishized: Feeders get off on the idea that their feedee might one day become too “satisfied”—and too obese—to move, thus making them completely dependent on their feeder."
This quote is very frightening, from the authors point of view and mine. To the author, its a sensationalized extreme scenario meant to illustrate the craziness of this fetish and pull the reader into sway. However, making this point is like saying "All BDSM practitioners want to become full-time slaves" or "All butch lesbians want to be men" or even "All Feminists are rabid man-haters". Its exactly the kind of extreme propaganda the author hates in mainstream media, and something we've all been trying to work against.
I am ultimately disappointed in this article because of its lack of respect for the audience, the topic and it is not the kind of article I would expect to be written in a well-thought of publication. I would like to see a rebuttal by Ivy and a more balanced view on the subject.
Article vs. Opinion
Jennifer K. Stuller replied on
As Andi stated above in the comments section, this is not an article. It is an opinion piece. There is a difference. An article would tend to have the balance of points of view you are seeking. But that's not necessarily the case with an opinion piece.
It is opinion.
You may not like the author's opinion, but that doesn't in any way make her an unprofessional writer.
To quote Andi (and I recommend reading her whole comment if you haven't already):
"Jessica’s piece was not meant to be an in-depth, overarching look at the culture of Fat Admiration, or of BBW modeling sites, or even of the psychology of feeders and feedees. What it is is one piece in a larger package of pieces (published in the print magazine) about the intersections between women, food, and representation. It is also an opinion piece. Jessica is not ethically bound to represent every facet of Ivy’s life and work; she is also not required to talk with Ivy. Could the piece have been more dimensional with Ivy’s own input? Sure. The piece could also have included the insight of dozens of others – scholars, performers, artists, health advocates. It doesn’t, because — again — it’s not an in-depth piece of journalism, but rather an opinion piece."
I think it's important for us as readers to be clear on what type of work we are responding to/critiquing before we criticize the quality of a writer's contributions.
Jennifer K. Stuller
jkstuller@ink-stainedamazon.com
http://www.ink-stainedamazon.com/
I have no dog in this fight,
FauxFaux replied on
I have no dog in this fight, but this "It's an EDITORIAL! not an ARTICLE!!" stuff is beginning to grate on my nerves, and just reeks of backpedaling.
Scroll up. Look at the blurb which precedes the text. Here, I'll even copy/paste and save you some wear and tear on your scrolling finger:
" Article by Jessica Hester, Illustrated by Jungyeon Roh, appeared in issue Consumed; published in 2009; filed under Consumer culture; tagged consumption, eating, eroticism, fat acceptance, fat phobia, feeding porn, fetishization, obesity, porn. "
ARTICLE by Jessica Hester, absolutely no categorization as an opinion piece or editorial.
Looks to me like it became an opinion piece about halfway through this comment thread, after the 25th person pointed out that it gets more wrong than it does right, about feederism/fat admiration/Ivy herself/etc.
the important point here is,
fred replied on
the important point here is, surely, that if you're going to make up an opinion about something, and splash it over pages that 50,000 people are going to read, you should try to find out something about the subject first. and if you write about an individual, and then condemn what that individual is doing (in howsoever a general manner), you are still condemning that individual.
if jessica had done a little more research, she'd know that this fetish, and the way it's presented, are much more complex than she recognizes. some people get bigger for their own pleasure, some for their own and their partner's in a consensual relationship. some make a little spare cash (and get a thrill, perhaps) out of this. but, also there are some women who've always been big, who only get recognition from fas and feeders, and who are perhaps convinced to model and gain weight through a need for money and positive reactions. and there's at least one site (stuffer31) which is male-run, and in which clearly at least some of the models are gaining weight only for the money.
thank you
Mike replied on
I think this is a really well-thought out and reasonable response, thank you for remaining civil while getting your point across. Kudos.
From the front page of the
BitchReader replied on
From the front page of the Bitch website:
If you can't wait (or aren't a subscriber), check out a few of the articles online—"Ladies' Camp Rock," "Feast of Burden," and a point/counterpoint on Meghan McCain.
A few of the ARTICLES.
let me say it again... ARTICLES.
definitely back peddling.
Will everyone quit it with
Whitney replied on
Will everyone quit it with the fucking semantics argument? It gets you nowhere and it's arguing just to argue. It's in the same category as arguing about grammar. It. Doesn't. Matter. Now everyone is just nitpicking and arguing just to argue. Stop.
A hurtful image
Kerry M. replied on
When my copy of this <i>Bitch</i> issue arrived in the mail I was excited, as always. While I was flipping through it, however, I came across the image attached to this article. As a woman of size, the representation hurt me. It is hard, you see, to come home to what you think will be a comfort only to be smacked in the face with the same old dehumanizing reflections of yourself so prominent everywhere else in life. Because of this unintentional injury, it took me some time to revisit the magazine and to actually read the accompanying editorial. Ultimately, I did not find it offensive or sloppy (though I do agree that some distinction should have been made between websites that host images of BBWs in various states of undress and those that feature Feeding porn).
Rather, my complaint is with Jungyeon Roh’s illustration of a larger than average woman and your magazine’s approval and collusion with this image via its publishing (in multiple venues). Granted all of the illustrations for “Appetite for Deconstruction” have an exaggerated and frantic quality. But the image for “Feast of Burden” is the only one in which <b>the figure is both participating in and an embodiment of the grotesque</b>. Her body, quite literally, consumes the image – taking up more than three quarters of the frame (not so for the others). In this way her size is made central; it is offered as her single defining feature. She is also the only character scantily clad. And while this does make rhetorical sense when paired with an article discussing a pornography niche, the overall effect of having (what is meant to be) a so obviously monstrous woman nearly nude is to make her sexuality ironic.
Clearly I am not the only <i>Bitch</i> reader more than a little ruffled by this image/editorial combination. And while this may not be cause of others’ critical (and occasionally hostile) comments, I know I had to actively work against letting my displeasure with the image spillover into my reception of Hester’s text.
My decision to throw my voice into this already riotous chorus is to exercise my anger and not to motivate more flame wars. I recognize that none of us is beyond mistake and that everyone has “blank spots”; but dearest <i>Bitch</i> (my imaginary feminist friend) I had to tell you, for the good of our friendship, that I sincerely hope a magazine so acutely aware of the implications and power of representation will try to be more considerate to your rotund sisters in the future.
Kerry M.
As much as feminism is about
cheree replied on
As much as feminism is about celebrating the body in its various incarnations, it's also about promoting and preserving women's health. It seems that many people here are privileging psychological and emotional well-being over physical well-being, but just as too-thin bodies have extra health problems, obese bodies have extra health problems. And these health problems have literal price tags. I believe everyone has a right to health care. I also believe in personal responsibility. I know I'm sounding hopelessly idealistic here, but we should all shoulder the burden of health care, and we should all keep ourselves as healthy as possible. Unlike other "taboo" fetishes (BSM comes to mind) the consequences of feeding endanger personal health in the long-term. Creating and promoting sites that celebrate or encourage women to overeat is irresponsible, which to me makes it anti-feminist.
Excuse me?
Choice replied on
Wait, stop the press. Are you actually saying I'm not a feminist because I'm fat, and I don't feel that I should be ashamed of my body?
If we were standing on the sidewalk, counter-protesting the 40 Days of Lifers, would you tell me that to my face?
Poor research makes poor "article"
Ardeth replied on
I'm a guy who enjoys watching Ivy and others get big, bigger, biggest. Which makes me a "consumer" of this porn.
The writer's assertion that viewers "claim the female body as a site for male domination and control" and that "consumers of feeding porn fail to acknowledge that the female performers really are big, beautiful women" is based on---what?
Extensive interviews with fat and gaining web models? The men who watch the videos?
Comments from idiots on YouTube?
This is all from her armchair? Or "anthropologist Don Kulick?" Or "historian Joan Jacobs?"
Ever think of joining Ivy's site for 16 bucks, or speaking directly to her and reporting her comments here, or leaving your house and sitting across from a feeder model or a man who digs the videos and photos?
Didn't think so.
You have a great future in tabloid journalism, Jessica Hester. You don't know anything and aren't interested in reporting researched facts.
Ardeth
choice
Anonymous replied on
it's a shame that semi naked,breast flashing, morbidly obese women label themselves 'feminists'!
eating ur way into health problems for the pleasure of others?(most likely MEN) and then labelling it sexual empowerment?
It was probably not what earlier generations fought for with their campaigns...we got the right to an education! let's use it....
but ur right, if flashing some skin is ones empowerment! then so be it. I say hats off to the author, who has found a voice through the flashing of words and the stimulation of some intellectual discussion rather than the flashing of genitilia and an unhealthy body (medically)...:)
but each to their own!
Hmmm. What I find
Anonymous replied on
Hmmm. What I find interesting is that many of those attacking the author also refer to the women on the feeder sites/in the community as "girls." If people are going to get super-picky about semantics, that's something that stands out, to me.
I don't care what people do with their bodies, with food, whatever- go for it. People have their own motivations for all sorts of things- that's just being human. For example, having a husband with a brain tumor (surgery six, and counting!) has made me determined to be healthy, for all sorts of reasons. Other people prioritize different things. Fine.
However: I do think that if something is in the public space, it is fair game for being discussed, praised, and/or critiqued. I had very little notion of this fetish, read the article, thought it was interesting....and then read the comments. My opinion now is pretty much the same as it is with any "community": people get defensive and behave badly when they feel like their lives and choices are being attacked, regardless of whether or not that is true.
I can see where the defensiveness comes in, actually- this is, in some part, a critique of a fetish and those who indulge in it. But it is also just one more lens on the subject- does it deserve THIS much aggro? Civility and common sense (and often, spelling and grammar) go out the window. It's silly. It happens in ferret rescue communities, people talking about what is the best food to feed their dogs, if you should cut your hair or grow it long- it's just people being defensive, reactive and somewhat nasty. Human nature.
So, congratulations- you've now reduced yourselves to the same as every other gathering of people in the classic "us" vs. "them" scenario, cut off debate, thrown around some insults, and become sheep. Yay for you.
Pornography = Objectification. Always.
Sarah Feminist replied on
I'd just like to point out that most pornography relies on male voyeurism, which is inherently dependent on a relationship of male domination. Choosing to profit from that relationship does not undercut the fact that it objectifies and devalues women.
Also, what's up with accusing Hester of being too young to understand feminism? The fact that she is a college student has nothing to do with her ability to engage theory intelligently.
Pornography is not just for
Choice replied on
Pornography is not just for men. Objectification is not exclusive to male domination. Pornography is not always profiting on male voyeurism.
Eye Roll
ArticFox replied on
I did enjoy this article and some of the more intelligent comments made about it. However the entire conversation seems to be weighted heavily towards the second wave feminist lens that presumes all (or at least most) pornography objectifies women; which in my opinion is only half true. The nasty truth is that men objectify women in general, not just in porn, and women objectify men the same way this is a fact of human nature that we'll just have to learn to live with.
However, there is one issue the article did not touch upon and that is the fact that the making and distribution of pornography is a business and as such Ivy and other such actresses are attempting to fulfill a demand, which apparently they have been rather successful at. As to whether or not they are being objectified, of course they are that's the nature of the business and undoubtedly they know this. As to the whole domination of the man over the female body well that's been the chief male fantasy since time immemorial it should hardly be a topic of interest anymore, a more interesting line of inquiry might be how women have chosen/tried to subvert this fantasy into one were the woman controls the male body, as could perhaps be argued in reference to pornography. But that's only my opinion.
Anyway, a very interesting article thank you for introducing me to a new type of fetish :D
"Everyday I wake up, look in the mirror and think...I'm somebody's fetish" SomethingPositive
Wow! That's a lot of angry
Anonymous replied on
Wow! That's a lot of angry feeders! I love seeing a girl get fatter- plain and simple and it's beyond my control, always has been. And I know there's nothing wrong with that until I make a woman unhappy- and that's something I would never want to do. I would worry more about the sexual habits of the MAJORITY POPULATION and stop picking on the sex lives of a group of people who are being pushed into a corner- amplifying their urges to fatten a women to the point of sadism and poor physical health.
How's the weather up there in Privilege Tower? You hear me okay?
Matt Seegz replied on
"Become normal or pay the price," is what I gather from this. Feminism is for normals only. Check your fatties, sexual deviants and fetish weirdos at the door. Don't bother with their points of view- the subnormals don't have feelings like us.
I'm bisexual, fat and into feederism. In fact, I like it more when I feed skinny folks. I'm a sex-crazed lunatic out to fatten everyone up, so lock ya doors. Sorry, am I too weird for this enclave of shriveled, skeletal prudes?
Sigh.
I'm still a feminist, but this article makes me ashamed to associate with people like you. I guess solidarity is all well and good if you're thin, and if you're gonna be fat, you should be ashamed of it, so well done Kelly. Because that's some great pro-feminist logic. You hate being fat so obviously everyone else should. Oh, and who was it who criticized someone for being pro-choice? Because that was AMAZING. How do you do that and still call yourself a feminist?
I mean, wow. Who needs supermodels, beer commercials and misogyny in general when you have Bitch Media?
As far as I can tell, this article was meant to troll people. The comments are nothing but a gathering of skinny women and their self-loathing "fat friends" ganging up on fat people and then cackling at the attention they're getting as said fatties try to make a case for themselves. This is some depraved shizzle right here. However sickening you think this fetish is, the article and the attention it so desperately craves are far sicker.
Appropriate name for this publication. This article has the misfortune of being my introduction to Bitch, and given the nature of my experience, it'll probably be my last. I figured I'd tell you all, since you all seem to care so much for your readers.
I enjoyed this article except
shakethecobwebs replied on
I enjoyed this article except for one point - not all feeders wish for their feedee's to become immobile. For some feeder's, it's simply watching the growth of a body that is erotic. Let's also keep in mind that some women get off on being submissive. I know I do.
EDIT: I should clarify. I
shakethecobwebs replied on
EDIT: I should clarify. I enjoy that someone wrote about feeding, but I'm disappointed by the overtly negative connotation given to the fetish itself. If a sexual act is consensual, there's no need to refer to it as a "disturbing world."
wow thanks for the great
HAFA replied on
wow thanks for the great article.
i'm tired of this
kingandhishorse replied on
I haven't read every comment but as a male FA I say ivy is right and haters gonna hate. You people bicker too much. I'm going back to 4chan where it's more civilized.
hmmm, cell marketing is quite
reverse cell ph... replied on
hmmm, cell marketing is quite interesting, maybe there would be some more buck making oppurtunities in it“
as a female feeder...
Elk Paauw replied on
I have spent many years coming to terms with my apparently "disturbing" fetish. I have finally found a male partner who celebrates my desire to fatten him up, and has helped me get over my shame of what I am aroused by. I have had many failed relationships due to my inability to accept my unique sexuality and my obsession with trying to be "normal". Frankly, this article reminds me of the reasons why I suppressed my desires for so long. To many, the way I get turned on is appalling. How could obesity be arousing, they say. It's unhealthy and disgusting, they say. But is it so unhealthy and disgusting for me to finally, truly be aroused by another's body? Even if that body is not the ideal muscular, svelte male body? My fiancé overeats to turn me on. I get the impression that lady models like Ivy overeat for similar reasons. Like all human beings, we have unique sexual desires and needs to be fulfilled. Some individuals may be exploited by this realm of pornography, just like any other, but please do not let that overshadow the extremely positive experiences that many feedees/feeders have had from guilt-free indulgences of this variety.
I've been a Bitch subscriber for quite some time, and this article, contrary to all the ones I've read before, put me back in the closet for a moment, even despite the other perspectives put forward in the comments section by fellow FA's. The first half of the article on feeder theory was really thought-provoking and interesting! However, the latter half was a misconstrued generalization on feeder culture which was personally demoralizing and offensive. I'm just disappointed that a magazine I used to find so empowering would put me right back in that place of fear Bitch so opposes.
I would also like to note, the fat-porn I consume is in the form of written stories or drawings. The fantasy of weight-gain, to me, is more arousing than the reality. Hence why my fiancé remains at a healthy weight (225) while I still get my jollies from his (modest) jelly rolls. Another fun fact, he usually initiates 9/10 feeding scenarios with me because I'm still sheepish when it comes to feeding him, and he loves to turn me on. How is this non-consensual, unhealthy, exploitative, or anti-feminist? As with any fetish, each person has their own way of acting out a certain sexual desire, so please do not paint us all as creepy, patriarchal, force-feeding monsters out to exploit and kill innocent women by making them obese. Obviously, there is more than one way to be a feeder or to enjoy feeder porn.
Also, just remember, if you are offended, then obviously its not for you, acknowledge, and move on. I'm horrified by the fact some get off on gagging young women like myself, but I can't hold it against those gaggers out there. Human sexuality and domination in sex are strange indeed. Honestly, I wish there were a better forum for discussion about the feminist-or-not aspects of this fetish, versus moral implications of obesity and domination, but unfortunately this comments section has not worked well for that.
All in all, I think everyone should just take a chill pill. Also, I think Bitch should post another article, perhaps a point/counter-point, on this issue in the future now that the dust has settled. Then again, the politics of fat are still very polarizing, so perhaps everyone should ultimately mind their own business when it comes to what goes on behind closed doors, even if it is all over the net.
I am a male feedee and was
Anonymous replied on
I am a male feedee and was kinda bothered by this article's many misconceptions, but among them that only women are feedees and only men are feeders. I'm glad to see an FFA speak up and I hope Bitch Magazine's taken a more nuanced view of a VERY complicated sexual scene since this article's publication.
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