Described as Amazonian - is this an insult?

[bigkahunaburger]

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?

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

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?!' and she patted me on the head like I was a fucking Labrador or something. 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.' 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.' I'm a 61 year old healthy and intelligent woman who is of sound mind. Don't talk to me like I'm simple.

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

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

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

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

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!

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

I get called Big Bird. Amazonian is far better.

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

Not an insult at all.

Strong thighs..

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!

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.

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 🤨

I think of Hannah Waddington when I think of Amazonian woman

Compliment obviously! I think it means tall, statuesque, striking looks, strong, maybe muscular. Think olympic athlete.

I once got described as 'sturdy'. Like a fucking wall! They tried to claim it was a compliment. Definitely wasn't
I wish I was Amazonian

Agree.

Think Grace Jones in her 1980s prime.

Makes me think of the fabulous Sharron Davies MBE who was on Gladiators in the 90s with the nickname Amazon 💪

Why would she ask if she knew this already?

(Yes, "you must know this" is my most hated MN phrase)

I’ve had this. I take it as a compliment, I’ve been thin and athletic and as the years go by quite a bit of a unit, but am definitely a presence. From your self-description you sound like what I’ve heard described as a proper armful hahahaha

Tall & strong, not an insult.

When I was in labour (and on the gas and air!), I said to one of the midwives that they were like an amazonian goddess! They were tall and slim and so beautiful! Definitely a compliment, I think!

I know - its so fucking annoying.

And I did kinda know what google said at least - but Im not athletic or athletic looking so it didn't fit - hence the confusion.

Im so pleased I wrote the post because now I understand it more.

I used to go out with a lovely fella who liked what he described as ‘sturdy’ girls. Big arms, broad hips. I was about the thinnest women he’d ever dated so was mortally insulted, this was also 2002 so we were all obsessed by trying to look as thin as possible. He was an early adopter of the concept of ‘thicc’ 😂. And, no word of a lie, he ended up married to a circus acrobat, she could have held my fat ass over her head!

Oh god thats awful! Lol. Worst insult I got was from a guy who said, 'well i would struggle to throw you around the bedroom!' Just for that he never got the chance to try. 😂