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Original poster

Described as Amazonian - is this an insult?

214 replies

bigkahunaburger · 17/08/2024 15:39

So many times throughout my adult life I have had my figure being described as 'Amazonian' to my face. I never really understood what it meant, and it just happened again today. I actually asked the person this time what it meant, and they sort of fumbled about looked embarrassed and looked flustered and kept muttering things like, 'big' and 'strong presence'....and it all got a bit awkward. So I'm just curious - is this an insult? a compliment? Ive tried to google it and I'm none the wiser.

Does it mean I look overweight?

OP posts:
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happygertie · 17/08/2024 17:03

I think of Hannah Waddington when I think of Amazonian woman

WhereAreWeNow · 17/08/2024 17:02

If it makes you feel any better @bigkahunaburger, I guy I was seeing once described me as "a strapping girl".
I reckon I was a size 10 at the time and I'm 5"8 🤨

Lemonyfuckit · 17/08/2024 17:02

I definitely think it's a compliment - to me it means tall strong athletic warrior like. Obviously you may not want to be described in those terms / I don't think it's polite to comment on people's figures full stop, but I definitely have never heard it used or implied as an insult and it definitely doesn't mean fat. I would almost equate it with goddess like - an Amazonian goddess.

WhereAreWeNow · 17/08/2024 17:00

OP I think you're right that people use it just to mean "tall woman" even though strictly speaking it also connotes athleticism.
I wouldn't take it as an insult though. Tall and curvy is great!

Danglers · 17/08/2024 16:59

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theduchessofspork · 17/08/2024 16:59

Hatty65 · 17/08/2024 16:31

You'd be called 'A strapping lass,' round our way, rather than Amazonian.

That's quite posh!

If’s ‘you could pull a plough’ round here.

Not an insult at all.

Strong thighs..

Growsomeballswoman · 17/08/2024 16:57

I get called Big Bird. Amazonian is far better.

theduchessofspork · 17/08/2024 16:56

Rymeswithpunt · 17/08/2024 16:40

In the context of our society which values 'femininity' in women, yes Id read it as insulting.
Should have given the bloke a smack.

Edited

Don’t be daft. The fact that not every man would fancy a female warrior type doesn’t make it an insult.

Very few people think Gal Gadot is unattractive

https://wonder-woman.fandom.com/wiki/Amazons

Amazons

The Amazons are an all-female society of superhumans, based on the Amazons of Greek mythology. There have been three major incarnations of these Amazons, one before the Crisis, and two after. What two of these groups have in common is that they are the...

https://wonder-woman.fandom.com/wiki/Amazons

Original poster
bigkahunaburger · 17/08/2024 16:56

LadeOde · 17/08/2024 16:47

Context is everything, in the same way a 'handsome woman' will be.

Edited

Context was on a first date with a guy and he said, 'wow you are so amazonian'. When I asked what he meant he floundered and flustered and looked uncomfortable so i changed the subject.

In the past men have said it to me and I never really knew how to take it. If i questioned it they would say I was 'big' or 'big-framed' or something like that. Like people here I thought it meant tall and athletic - so really toned strong looking women. And thats what google says too, so i always pictured female basketball player types or like serena williams. My figure is nothing like that so my google searches left me none the wiser. Im tall and very curvy/wobbly - hourglass. So it never made sense to me why I was being referred to in that way.

I think it is interesting that there are a few posters who have figures like mine who have had the same descriptor. So clearly although people here are saying it means tall and athletic, to some men it doesn't mean that (which is the correct meaning) it also means 'tall and very curvy".

I'm not sure I like it, and Im still unclear if he meant it as a compliment or not, but I am going to try and embrace it. I am what I am afterall!

OP posts:
Anjo2011 · 17/08/2024 16:56

Tall, strong and with a presence. Definitely a compliment.

WhereAreWeNow · 17/08/2024 16:54

I'd say it means tall and athletic which I'd take as a compliment! Here's a statue of an Amazonian.

Described as Amazonian - is this an insult?
theduchessofspork · 17/08/2024 16:52

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It does not!

It’s after the female warriors of legend.

Strong and tall yes, big busts and thighs - optional to unlikely.. I’m not saying it’s not what the porn mag means - but it’s not what Amazonian generally means

mirrensidhe · 17/08/2024 16:51

I'd take that as a compliment, your presence is powerful.

Zow · 17/08/2024 16:51

Spaniellover2 · 17/08/2024 16:15

I would love to be described as Amazonian. Instead, I am an elderly - ish apple and often get ‘Aww bless …’ when I speak. No one would speak to a warrior woman like that.

Yep, I am a slightly plump (size 16,) 5 ft 3, aged early 60s woman - and I often get people saying 'awww bless......' 😊

Hmm

I had a nurse in her 20s say to me the other day (when I was having a blood test,) 'awwwwww bless! Aren't you so cute?!' Grin and she patted me on the head like I was a fucking Labrador or something. Confused Because I said I had a couple of bird feeders - and had to get some seed for them from B & M.

I also get people sometimes stopping at the side of the road putting the window down and asking if I'm OK, when I am on one of my 5 times a week - 4 mile walks. Clearly wondering what a dotty old woman like me is doing on her own a mile from the nearest house! (Or I sometimes get a village resident stopping by me (in their car,) leaning out of the window, and saying 'you need a coat on lovey.' Hmm When it's April or May, and 16-18 degrees C!

I feel like saying 'stop treating me like a doddery old fucking simpleton you twatting arsehat!' but I know they're just being 'nice.' Hmm I'm a 61 year old healthy and intelligent woman who is of sound mind. Don't talk to me like I'm simple.

theduchessofspork · 17/08/2024 16:50

Tall and strong and not to be messed with - they were female warriors in greek mythology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons

I’d be delighted to be called this (though it ain’t gonna happen)

Amazons - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazons

AnnieMcFanny · 17/08/2024 16:50

I’ve always considered Amazonian to be a compliment.

ilovesushi · 17/08/2024 16:49

I would imagine it as tall, lean, athletic, quite sexy. I've had that comment in the past and that's how I've chosen to interpret it!

LadeOde · 17/08/2024 16:47

Context is everything, in the same way a 'handsome woman' will be.

StoneTheCrone · 17/08/2024 16:45

In my twenties, I was described as Amazonian a few times. I'm 5' 6" and used to be gym-honed and broad-shouldered, so i just took it to mean strong and athletic, not necessarily tall - that would be statuesque.

Zow · 17/08/2024 16:45

Least you didn't get called strapping and sturdy OP. As a woman or girl that is NEVER a compliment!

Original poster
bigkahunaburger · 17/08/2024 16:43

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OMG that's hilarious!

OP posts:
Danglers · 17/08/2024 16:42

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Stravaig · 17/08/2024 16:42

In Greek mythology, the Amazons 'were a group of female warriors and hunters who were known for their physical agility, strength, archery, riding skills, and the arts of combat. Their society was closed to men ...' Lots more here! (Wikipedia)

LonelyInDville · 17/08/2024 16:42

I’ve been called this and I’m right under 5’7”. However I am large framed with broad shoulders (hate them) and big thighs (which I’m fine with) and I’m not curvy. So I never take being called an Amazon as a compliment, it to me means big and strong looking. If I had the body of Xena I wouldn’t care tho 😂

thicklysettled · 17/08/2024 16:41

Hatty65 · 17/08/2024 16:31

You'd be called 'A strapping lass,' round our way, rather than Amazonian.

That's quite posh!

Definitely! I'm 5'10, solid and northern. Got "Amazonian" and "statuesque" frequently as a young 'un.

Strapping never felt quite as complimentary 😄

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