New nightclubs cater to plus-size women

There are few places where heavy men and women can go to escape the impossible standards of what is portrayed as “attractive” by the media. But now the nightclub scene in California is beginning to offer options that specifically cater to Big Beautiful Women, or BBWs.

In an effort to fight the discrimination of overweight people, Club Bounce in Long Beach has created a friendly atmosphere for those who might have trouble getting past the velvet ropes at other clubs. Bounce is where voluptuous women can show off their curves without facing torment or criticism. In fact, they get a tremendous amount of positive attention for it.

Men and women who are proud of their weight and are not afraid to flaunt some skin are encouraged to attend Bounce. More than three quarters of the women at nightclub are overweight. In contrast, only one third of the men who attend the club are Big Handsome Men…or BHMs. Contrary to what the mainstream media tells us, there are slender men who are interested in finding women with meat on their bones.

“When you’re not what they consider ideal, you know, and you’re out there trying to get your dance on at those other places, you get the looks, the stares. But not here. Everything’s accepted here,” says Vanessa Gray of Long Beach, who acknowledges proudly that after giving birth to three children, she’s got a little more meat on her bones.

The people of San Diego and San Fransisco can also expect the opening of such clubs in their town. Lisa Marie Garbo, who opened Club Bounce five years ago, says she prefers plus-sized or larger-framed customers.

“I don’t think fat is a bad word anymore,” she adds. “I think a lot of people embrace it now.”

But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not want people to embrace unhealthy lifestyles that could lead to obesity. Currently, one third of adults in American are overweight or obese, and some are questioning whether Club Bounce is encouraging people to remain overweight.

Garbo says she’s not a “gain-weight” advocate. She merely wants to create an environment where heavy people can feel good about themselves.

Sociologist Karen Sternheimer says building self-esteem can prompt people to do something about their weight.

“As the country gets heavier and ultimately unhealthier, in many instances the problem is people feeling bad about themselves, and feeling bad about themselves doesn’t motivate people to lose weight,” says Sternheimer, author of “Connecting Social Problems and Popular Culture.”

In the video below, I agree with Sternheimer and add more thoughts.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wires/2009/10/26/club-bounce-nightclubs-fo_ws_334117.html