# The "Amazonian" stereotype needs to stop. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185 "2014-07-15T17:39:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/21 "2014-07-16T01:24:27Z")
“Amazon” is just a descriptor, like “redhead”, “swarthy”, “tall”, or “beefcake”. That I’m aware of, anyone using the word likely means it in a positive sense. If they thought your build made you ugly, they’d probably use something like “giant” or “Arnolda”. The men are being rude for talking about you within earshot, not because they used the word “Amazon”. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/22 "2014-07-16T01:29:17Z")
To echo those above I would never make that type of comment. Problem is assholes will be assholes. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/23 "2014-07-16T01:31:25Z")
The first one was bad but the second one was easily worse. Saying that you want to tie a woman up so you can have sex with her? That’s way past the creepy point. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/24 "2014-07-16T01:37:30Z")
> [@Methyl\_Ethyl\_Death](#): > > Me want snu snu! Death by snu snu. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/25 "2014-07-16T01:55:48Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > “Amazon” is just a descriptor, like “redhead”, “swarthy”, “tall”, or “beefcake”. That I’m aware of, anyone using the word likely means it in a positive sense. If they thought your build made you ugly, they’d probably use something like “giant” or “Arnolda”. Eh, I dunno. Except for “redhead” and “tall”, all of those terms are loaded and have a high potential for being taken the wrong way. Describing someone’s skin tone as having an “olive-complexion” is always neutral. But someone saying is “swarthy”…I dunno. Sometimes it is neutral. Sometimes it’s not. “Amazon” is one of those terms a person should stay away from. Most women don’t want to be reminded of their size–no matter what extreme they are closer to. There are lots of positive ways of saying someone is pleasantly larger than average–zaftig, rubenesque, BBW, statuesque. But a size reference in casual conversation is still gratuitous. It’s also an “othering” term, the same way that “exotic” is. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/26 "2014-07-16T02:50:17Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Eh, I dunno. Except for “redhead” and “tall”, all of those terms are loaded and have a high potential for being taken the wrong way. Describing someone’s skin tone as having an “olive-complexion” is always neutral. But someone saying is “swarthy”…I dunno. Sometimes it is neutral. Sometimes it’s not. I think they all have potential for being taken the wrong way _if you say them in the presence of the person you’re saying them about_. Women shouldn’t go up to a man and say, “Well aren’t you a darling piece of beefcake?” But if she’s chatting with girlfriends about all the men they meet in their daily life, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear some objectification going on. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/27 "2014-07-16T02:55:36Z")
That’s what you get for just letting it all hang out. It is pretty bizarre and offensive dialogue, I gotta say. I wouldn’t have imagined that a pair of men who’d say “making love” and “perhaps” would follow those up with “jungle strength.” They sound like British colonial explorers in an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/28 "2014-07-16T03:02:54Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > **“Amazon” is one of those terms a person should stay away from.** Most women don’t want to be reminded of their size–no matter what extreme they are closer to. There are lots of positive ways of saying someone is pleasantly larger than average–zaftig, rubenesque, BBW, statuesque. But a size reference in casual conversation is still gratuitous. > > It’s also an “othering” term, the same way that “exotic” is. How about “online-shopian” ? ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/29 "2014-07-16T03:19:08Z")
Personally I think the comments are outright rude and would probably constitute sexual harrassment and possibly racial elements as well. I wouldn’t worry about the Amazonian bit in it’s own right, I think being referred to as an Amazon would be intended as a compliment, but the rest of it is cause for getting grumpy. And anyway, height is relative. I’m over 6’3" so you’re just a short arse.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/30 "2014-07-16T04:13:28Z")
When I started reading your post I thought you were overreacting and seriously needing to check your pretty girl, youth and non-short guy privilege Then I read this… > [@missyevelyn](#): > > The other one said, “perhaps. But we’d have to tie her down first, those giant jungle women are hard to tame.” I am not sure it is possible to be more racist and misogynistic in a single sentence. You’ve got a rape reference, bestialising language, xenophobia, everyday frustrating stereotypes taken to the extreme, not to mention how they objectify and dehumanise you. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/31 "2014-07-16T04:15:53Z")
> [@missyevelyn](#): > > Thanks. 😃 You caught my comment in the minute or two after I posted it – but I was afraid it might be taken the wrong way, so I changed it. Thanks for not taking it the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/32 "2014-07-16T09:55:00Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > I am not sure it is possible to be more racist and misogynistic in a single sentence. > You’ve got a rape reference, bestialising language, xenophobia, everyday frustrating stereotypes taken to the extreme, not to mention how they objectify and dehumanise you. [Grease Dilemma](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9eHdb2bR9g) ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/33 "2014-07-16T16:44:45Z")
> [@missyevelyn](#): > > This is why feminism can’t die. People would like to ignore it, but chauvinism still reigns, especially in America. Especially America, yes. You know, women in Saudi Arabia don’t have this problem, as the women are protected from the male gaze. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/34 "2014-07-16T17:44:11Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > I am not sure it is possible to be more racist and misogynistic in a single sentence. > You’ve got a rape reference, bestialising language, xenophobia, everyday frustrating stereotypes taken to the extreme, not to mention how they objectify and dehumanise you. It really is remarkable, isn’t it? If we had a contest to say something as offensive as possible, in as many ways as possible, in 16 words or less, using only words that, individually, are completely appropriate to use when speaking to pre-schoolers," I don’t think any of us could even come close to doing as well. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/35 "2014-07-16T18:18:50Z")
> [@choie](#): > > That’s what you get for just letting it all hang out. Can you clarify what you mean by this? It kind sounds like you’re saying that she should expect to be subjected to this kind of behavior because she chose to wear a bikini - at the beach… Is that actually what you meant? ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/36 "2014-07-16T18:37:06Z")
> [@Commander\_Fortune](#): > > Can you clarify what you mean by this? It kind sounds like you’re saying that she should expect to be subjected to this kind of behavior because she chose to wear a bikini - at the beach… > > Is that actually what you meant? It was more than that. She dared to wear a bikini in which the top and bottom were too far apart. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/37 "2014-07-16T23:44:13Z")
As for a good come-back… How about a friendly wave, and a cheerful: “Hey! I’m a real person here and I heard that.” That is enough make your point, and mild enough not to get them defensive. You’ll likely get a sheepish grin from the offenders. ---
**Author:** ![missyevelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@missyevelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missyevelyn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/38 "2014-07-17T11:41:17Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > When I started reading your post I thought you were overreacting and seriously needing to check your pretty girl, youth and non-short guy privilege > > Then I read this… > > I am not sure it is possible to be more racist and misogynistic in a single sentence. > You’ve got a rape reference, bestialising language, xenophobia, everyday frustrating stereotypes taken to the extreme, not to mention how they objectify and dehumanise you. The continued dialogue from them was even more graphic (and I’d never post it here). That year, I was genuinely afraid for my life. I never had someone speak that graphically and rudely about me. The bondage part creeped me out the most, by far. ---
**Author:** ![missyevelyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5ac83/32.png) [@missyevelyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missyevelyn)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/39 "2014-07-17T11:43:54Z")
> [@choie](#): > > That’s what you get for just letting it all hang out. > > It is pretty bizarre and offensive dialogue, I gotta say. I wouldn’t have imagined that a pair of men who’d say “making love” and “perhaps” would follow those up with “jungle strength.” They sound like British colonial explorers in an Edgar Rice Burroughs novel. Umm, letting it all hang out? I was wearing a bikini, not a thong. And it’s the beach for crying out loud. What was I supposed to wear, a dress? ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185/40 "2014-07-17T11:48:45Z")
> [@missyevelyn](#): > > That year, I was genuinely afraid for my life. I never had someone speak that graphically and rudely about me. That’s not an extreme overreaction, as they did call out your name so they do know at least some of your personal details I’m sorry you had to go through it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-amazonian-stereotype-needs-to-stop/693185.md?page=3)