AGAINST FEEDERISM
HISTORY/EXISTING CONDITION:
The practice of feederism is defined as the promotion of intentional weight
gain for the sexual pleasure of oneself or another person. People engaging
in the active practice of feederism are referred to as feeders and feedees.
Feederism is also known as "encouraging", and its participants as "encouragers"
and "gainers". There is no documentation of the prevalence of this practice,
but it is considered to be rare. This practice finds expression in a small
selection of publications and web sites, and is mostly discussed in the
context of fantasy.
While NAAFA asserts that consenting adults have a right to make their own choices in their private lives, NAAFA also feels a responsibility to its members and the public to encourage people of all sizes to engage in behaviors and make choices that are healthy and self-affirming. One goal of NAAFA is acceptance of ourselves and others. Attempts to change one's weight to please others (either to lose weight or to gain weight) run contrary to NAAFA's mission of eliminating discrimination based on body size. Expecting one's sexual partner to gain weight is no more accepting of that person's body than expecting one's partner to lose weight.
The practice of feederism should not be confused with having an attraction
for a fat partner. Most fat admirers would support and love their significant
others regardless of changes in body size or any other feature of his
or her partner's body. The practice of feederism should also not be confused
with the incorporation of food play into sexual activity; the distinguishing
aspect is the deliberate manipulation of an individual's body weight.
NAAFA'S OFFICIAL POSITION:
NAAFA supports an individual's right to control all choices concerning his or her own body. NAAFA opposes the practice of feederism, in which one partner in a sexual relationship expects another partner to gain weight.
NAAFA ADVOCATES:
- That all bodies, of all sizes, are joyous and that individuals of all sizes can and should expect and demand respect from sexual partners for their bodies just as they are.
- That individuals who seek sexual partners accept and celebrate the current weight of their partner as one aspect of the whole person.
- That people of all sizes become empowered to demand respect for their bodies in the context of sexual relationships, without attempting to lose or gain weight in order to win a partner's approval or attract or retain that partner's desire.
NAAFA RESOLVES TO:
- Educate its membership and the public about individuals' right to be respected and admired in their sexual relationships without being expected to change their weight by either losing or gaining weight.
- Advocate for people who have been pressured to lose or gain weight by sexual partners. Support people of all sizes in demanding respect for their current weight in all of their relationships, sexual or otherwise.
Last Revised: 4/29/2004
First Issued: 4/29/2004
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