Feederism: an exploratory study into the stigma of erotic weight gain by Alyshia D. Bestard A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2008 © Alyshia D. Bestard 2008 ISBN: 978-0-494-43596-0 Author’s Declaration Page I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis. This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract This thesis presents qualitative exploratory research findings on the phenomenon of feederism. Feederism, also referred to as “erotic weight gain,” involves people who are sexually aroused by gaining weight (called “feedees” or “gainers”) or encouraging others to gain weight (called “feeders” or “encouragers”). Sometimes feederism is practiced within relationships and sometimes it is practiced alone. Respondents emphasize the importance that fantasy plays within feederism. The experiences and understandings of 30 respondents are considered in an attempt to examine how those who are interested in feederism might be stigmatized and how they may cope with having this stigma. iii Acknowledgements Special thanks to the following people: Dr. Alicja Muszynski, Dr. Adie Nelson, and Dr. Barry McClinchey for advising me along the way through my many thesis drafts. Dr. David MacGregor, Dr. Lesley Harman, and Dr. Joseph Lella for helping develop my sociological imagination during my undergraduate degree. My research respondents who graciously shared their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences with me and who encouraged me along the way. iv Dedication For my Mom in appreciation of her ongoing support and love. v Table of Contents CHAPTER 1: INTRODUC TION ............................................................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER 2: LITERATUR E REVIEW ................................................................................................................ 7 GOFFMAN’S SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM............................................................................................................... 7 The Stigma Associated with Feederism............................................................................................................. 8 The Stigma of Obesity........................................................................................................................................... 9 Stigmatized Sexual Identities.............................................................................................................................18 HOW IS FEEDERISM CONTEXTUALIZED ACADEMICALLY?..................................................................................22 “Fat” by Kulick (2005)......................................................................................................................................22 “Locating Aesthetics: Sexing the Fat Woman” by Murray (2004)............................................................24 “Big Handsome Men, Bears, and Others: Virtual Constructions of ‘Fat Male Embodiment’” by Monaghan (2005)................................................................................................................................................27 “Feederism: A New Sexual Pleasure and Subculture” by Giovanelli and Peluso (2006).....................28 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLO GY ..........................................................................................................................35 THE ONLINE FEEDERISM COMMUNITY..................................................................................................................38 SAMPLING METHOD..................................................................................................................................................40 Dimensions Online: “dims”..............................................................................................................................42 Fantasy Feeder....................................................................................................................................................46 Other Approaches...............................................................................................................................................50 PROCESS .....................................................................................................................................................................52 IM Interviews .......................................................................................................................................................53 Internet Research................................................................................................................................................54 Telephone Interviews..........................................................................................................................................57 Coding...................................................................................................................................................................58 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS.....................................................................................................................................60 Being a Female BBW Researcher in Cyberspace..........................................................................................60 PARTICIPANTS............................................................................................................................................................62 Height/Weight/BMI.............................................................................................................................................66 Verification Checks.............................................................................................................................................66 Excluded Participants ........................................................................................................................................67 Sex & Location....................................................................................................................................................69 LIMITATIONS AND SUMMARY..................................................................................................................................70 CHAPTER 4: DEFINING & FRAMING “FEEDERISM” .............................................................................72 DEFINING THE “FEEDING IDENTITIES”...................................................................................................................79 “Gainers” & “Feedees”....................................................................................................................................81 “Encouragers” & “Feeders” ...........................................................................................................................82 CHAPTER 5: STIGMA AND STIGMA MANAGEMENT ............................................................................89 DISCREDITABLE STIGMA..........................................................................................................................................89 LEARNING EXPERIENCES.........................................................................................................................................90 SECRECY VS. DISCLOSURE .......................................................................................................................................97 STIGMA MANAGEMENT..........................................................................................................................................105 Discovering “the own”................................................................................................................................... 106 Fantasy............................................................................................................................................................... 113 Desiring Extreme Weight Gain in Real Life ................................................................................................ 124 Techniques of Neutralization ......................................................................................................................... 125 Denial of Responsibility.................................................................................................................................. 127 Denial of the Victim........................................................................................................................................ 132 Condemnation of the Condemners.................................................................................................................. 134 Recognizing Injury.......................................................................................................................................... 136 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS .........................................................................................................................................139 vi CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................. 141 APPENDICES APPENDIX A - INTERVIEW QUESTIONS ..................................................................................................