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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to cringe at the term plus size?

297 replies

MishaHarrow · 17/03/2021 17:40

AIBU to cringe at the term plus size?

Surely large/larger or big/bigger sounds better?

OP posts:
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lazylinguist · 17/03/2021 17:45

Why does it sound better?

MishaHarrow · 17/03/2021 17:48

In the past people would use the term big/larger, its what i heard growing up. For me plus size just doesn't sound right / make sense.

OP posts:
PolarnOPirate · 17/03/2021 17:48

As a ‘larger lady’, the terms you suggested make me cringe. Plus size not as much. I favour overweight personally!

AnneLovesGilbert · 17/03/2021 17:50

Clothes or people?

Plus size or high BMI seem to be used more than overweight when it comes to people describing themselves.

ArosGartref · 17/03/2021 17:50

The thing that annoys me is euphemisms for plus size clothes - invariably "Curve".

lazylinguist · 17/03/2021 17:51

In the past people would use the term big/larger, its what i heard growing up. For me plus size just doesn't sound right / make sense.

Word use changes. People probably don't like being described as large. I don't see what about it doesn't make sense though.

LifesLittleDeciders · 17/03/2021 17:53

I got called the ‘bigger bridesmaid’ at my friends wedding by a bloke.. I would have rather plus sized... and I’m a size 12! 🥴

Beseigedbykillersquirrels · 17/03/2021 17:53

Why does it not 'make sense' or 'sound right'? It's coming across as you wanting to label plus size women as fat. Would you rather every clothes store had a 'fat/big/large' range just so it sounds better or makes more sense to you? Or do you think that in 2021 we can use more inclusive and positive language?

Whiskyinajar · 17/03/2021 17:54

My lovely MIL always refers to plus size clothes "which she has to buy" as "FM clothes" ...the FM means "f*ING massive" and she laughs as she says it,

I wear plus size and I don't care what the clothes are called as long as they are good quality and I have a good choice,

MishaHarrow · 17/03/2021 17:57

@Beseigedbykillersquirrels

Why does it not 'make sense' or 'sound right'? It's coming across as you wanting to label plus size women as fat. Would you rather every clothes store had a 'fat/big/large' range just so it sounds better or makes more sense to you? Or do you think that in 2021 we can use more inclusive and positive language?
No. I prefer the term large/larger or big/bigger.

If it makes a difference, I used to be overweight for around 2 years, several years ago. Before managing to come back down to normal. People used to call me big, I didnt mind.

OP posts:
LApprentiSorcier · 17/03/2021 17:57

Everyone knows what it means, so I don't think it should be changed. 'Large' in some brands is a size 12 but everyone would interpret 'plus size' as 16 + so you know where you are with it.

GreyhoundG1rl · 17/03/2021 17:57

Larger or bigger sound better than plus?? 🤣

WorraLiberty · 17/03/2021 17:58

'Larger' or 'bigger' could refer to height though.

Plus size normally means overweight, regardless of height.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 17/03/2021 17:59

As an 18/20

I don't know why it isn't just left as Size. Why make a fucking point of YOU'RE LARGER to people just buying clothes. Newsflash Clothes Brands : We Know

MishaHarrow · 17/03/2021 17:59

To clarify, it wasnt random people trying to be mean or anything (I think)...just friends/family, that would use that or similar term on occasion.

OP posts:
SavingsQuestions · 17/03/2021 18:00

So because you used to be bigger you want to stigmatise those who still are?

I prefer plus size.

GreyhoundG1rl · 17/03/2021 18:01

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

As an 18/20

I don't know why it isn't just left as Size. Why make a fucking point of YOU'RE LARGER to people just buying clothes. Newsflash Clothes Brands : We Know

Well, quite. There's no actual need for further sub sections, once the adult sizes have been segregated from the kids. It serves no useful purpose.
cripez · 17/03/2021 18:01

'Coming back down to normal'

Nice, OP. That tells me all I need to know about your attitude to plus sized women.

WorraLiberty · 17/03/2021 18:02

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

As an 18/20

I don't know why it isn't just left as Size. Why make a fucking point of YOU'RE LARGER to people just buying clothes. Newsflash Clothes Brands : We Know

Because many clothes shops specialise is plus sized clothes and I expect they want people to know that.
MishaHarrow · 17/03/2021 18:03

The thing is, some people honestly have a large build/frame regardless of weight (includes me), which is probably why I associate more with big/large rather than plus size. I.e. even at normal BMI, I am towards the larger size.

OP posts:
ArosGartref · 17/03/2021 18:04

Congratulations on being normal now.

MishaHarrow · 17/03/2021 18:04

@cripez

'Coming back down to normal'

Nice, OP. That tells me all I need to know about your attitude to plus sized women.

Please dont take that out of context, wasnt meant it that way.
OP posts:
Pinchoftums · 17/03/2021 18:04

Overweight or fat are my preferred choices for me.

Moneyworriesneedtogetagrip · 17/03/2021 18:05

@LifesLittleDeciders

I got called the ‘bigger bridesmaid’ at my friends wedding by a bloke.. I would have rather plus sized... and I’m a size 12! 🥴
@LifesLittleDeciders - Just wow 🙄 I would love to have been a size 12 just once in my life so far! I bet you looked fantastic.
GreyhoundG1rl · 17/03/2021 18:06

@MishaHarrow

The thing is, some people honestly have a large build/frame regardless of weight (includes me), which is probably why I associate more with big/large rather than plus size. I.e. even at normal BMI, I am towards the larger size.
What does any of this matter? You're still a size 10/12/14 whatever, why are you anxious to label yourself as larger? It's very odd.
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