Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upsetting And Strange Porn Trend
What happens when sexual content online starts borrowing from extreme weight-loss communities? “Thigh gap” fetishization. Warning: explicit content.
The pro-ana/thinspo community could fill a dictionary with the code words and terms used in various social networks to discuss weight loss and aspirations of losing more and more weight.
But a new one, thigh gap, has crossed over from the relatively close-knit pro-anorexia community and is now being used by pornographic websites to categorize explicit material.
2. Here’s a definition of a “thigh gap” from Urban Dictionary:
Pro-anorexia or “pro-ana” material still thrives on social networks like Tumblr and Pinterest, despite their bans of thinspirational (or “thinspo”) content. A simple search reveals a pretty shocking amount of such material, easily indexable under the tag “thigh-gap” or “dat-gap.” (WARNING: “Dat-gap” is extremely not safe for work.)
4. A quick look at the content indexed under Tumblr’s “thigh-gap” tag:
8. And here’s what content tagged “thigh gap” on Pinterest looks like:
Now, the term has has become sexualized by men communing on sites like Reddit — it’s become a blanket term for a rear view of a woman bending over. The thinspo connotations are still there, but the images have become far more graphic than when the term was confined to thinspo circles.
13. Here’s a second, slightly more pointed definition of a thigh gap:
15. A list of the subreddits dedicated to thigh gaps:
•/r/datgap: DAT GAP
“You know what’s up. Dat gap.”
•/r/happygaps: Happy Gaps For All!”
“A subreddit for the glorious space between the vagina and the thighs.”
•/r/thighgaps: for that illustrious gap.
“Gap so big, gap so sexy, gap so wide it could fit a school bus.”
•/r/mindthegap: Mind the Gap
“See Urban Dictionary.”
•/r/boxgap: The beautiful gap caused by the box
•/r/GirlsWithGap: Girls With Gap
“Pics of girls with gaps between their legs.”
•r/gapbetweenthighs: Gap Between Thighs
“Girls with that beautiful and sexy gap in between.”
18. A post compiles examples of “dat gap” from the site Regretful Morning.
19. This co-opting of “thigh gap” is fairly upsetting when you remember that a community responsible for things like this:
21. Here’s a blog post from earlier this year referring to the gap goal as a “happy gap”:
23. Perhaps the shocking thing is how prevalent and complex the “gap classification” has become.
Coming up with bawdy, often bizarre terms for organizing sexual content online is nothing new. The whole porn industry is full of shorthand like BBW (big beautiful women) or nicknames for illicit activities like “water sports” (the act of urinating or defecating on a sexual partner).
But this appears to be the first time the line between a term paraded around by what is essentially a self-harm community and a term used by pornographers has blurred so quickly and gone so mainstream.
25. Women in the weight-loss community, who could be seen as being attacked by “the gap goal” on both sides, are obviously frustrated.
28. Lastly, a Google search for “thigh gap porn” brings up a listing that probably best illustrates the strange intermingling of the two communities:
29. Along with a Google trends graph showing that the use of these terms is absolutely increasing.
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- StefanoBlack▒ Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s Cute, WTF & Win
- dividersideas thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail
- victoriaelenaa Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset...
- SugarCupcake21 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s OMG, Ew & Fail
- ravent2 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew, Fail & WTF
- bxlew0207 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is OMG, WTF & Trashy
- Mr. Dew! thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF, Trashy & Ew
- meredithmo thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew & WTF
- stripedsox thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF
- h20s12s thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF
- Carol Fisher thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew
- livelst thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail
- meganl13 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew
- Nalani Rachel thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Trashy, Fail & WTF
- athompson94 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s Trashy, Fail & WTF
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- avivah thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew
- torsl965 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s WTF & Trashy
- donnak3 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew
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rosciperez 5 months agoi dont think ANY MAN in the history of FOREVER said “no, you’re thighs touch so sorry, I can’t have sex with you.” unless he was gay… then he won’t have sex with you for reasons out of your control :)
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- proflover Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset...
- Lolhelper thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail, Ew & Trashy
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Lolhelper 5 months agoWho cares in the end. To each its own hell. I was perplexed when I saw some japanese magazines where the promoted diets for women, they posted pre and post pictures. The craziest I saw was a women who was 1.62 and 54 kgs (pre diet), after she was 35 kgs, what the fucking hell?! How can you weight just that? Sick
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PlushKitten 5 months ago
Wow I had no idea. I obsess over my body for being too thin. I have alot of body issues bc I long for a curvier figure. But heeeeyyy. Im feeling a little better today! DAT GAP.
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- eldarm thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF
- beckyc3 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is LOL
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- TheSquishy thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is LOL & WTF
- Afantabulous thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew
- mothrastewart thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Trashy & Fail
- johnc52 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s Win
- cheese10 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is OMG & Ew
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johnc52 5 months agoI just thought it was me… but I appreciate the thin women over chubby women and I never heard of “thigh gap”, but it is one criteria I look for in a woman’s figure. It’s a turn on whereas “chub-rubbing” thighs are a turn off to me (but some guys like it). To each our own.
Thanks for this article. Now I know I’m not the only one out there who prefers thin women :) -
- carlymorgann thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew & Trashy
- nicolefloresl thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail, Trashy & Ew
- thebeff thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF
- kimberlys2 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s Ew
- lauraw6 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s WTF, Ew & Fail
- estrus Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset...
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- yigef thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Trashy, Ew & Fail
- Rejimaru thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Trashy & Fail
- capriciauniques Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s WTF
- erinachan thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail
- lizzl thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Trashy & WTF
- rezah thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail
- lez9 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail, WTF & Facepalm!
- emilym38 Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... and thinks it’s Ew
- stephaniep27 thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail
- HMD thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF
- Annesmomliz thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Fail
- elvisdepressley thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Trashy & Ew
- LeannL thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is WTF
- amper thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is LOL
- phonel thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Ew, WTF & Trashy
- Chris Chavez thinks Pro-Anorexia Community Inspires Upset... is Win
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Chris Chavez 5 months agoOkay, just because girls are thin doesn’t mean they’re anorexic. I love skinny girls and where some dudes like cleavage on a woman, I happen to like “happy gaps.” Again — I don’t like BONES, I like THIN.
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Emily G. 5 months agoThe issue isn’t body type preference. The issue is that thigh gap phenom started with pro anorexia and pro bulimia blogs. The fact that men have taken the idea of the thigh gap, morphed it, and ran with it does not erase the origin of the term. The means to get a thigh gap are still very apparent. All you have to do is search the tags on tumblr. They make no motion to hide what they do to get that thin. I do feel bad for men and women who are naturally that thin. I’m sure they get comments from the pro and against communities. Women and girls who are not naturally like that are going to get the idea that they need that thigh gap to be attractive. If they can’t do it the healthy way, they may try starving themselves.
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gcsapo 5 months agoThis “gap” thing is not solely related to being anorexic etc etc. I’m the target weight for my height and when I stand with my legs together the top of my thighs don’t touch! It also has a lot to do with posture, hip width and development. Also so what if people like looking at “skinny people” porn, everyone’s got their own preference.
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marleighgee 5 months ago
Dudes have fapped to weird shit since the invention of porn, so I guess I am not really surprised by this, but I sincerely hope that young girls don’t take this to mean they must attain this so-called gap to be attractive. I have a friend who is in incredible shape and also very petite, and her thighs touch because of how her legs are. This gap infatuation is just idiotic and unrealistic.
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amandarb 5 months agoI just recently recovered from an eating disorder. I’m not yet at my goal weight, I’m just 100 lbs, but I’m also petite so I’m only 10 lbs from a “normal” healthy weight. Point being, after sinking down to 80 lbs and having this “gap” I think this is the DUMBEST thing ever. I’m thrilled that my thighs touch. In all honesty though, what does one achieve not having touching thighs? I think there are more important things to worry about than having your thighs touch. **I don’t intend to be belittling those with ED,as I know they are thoughts beyond control**
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anditisliz0413 5 months agoReally? Let’s just add one more things to the lists of things women should be insecure about. Who gives a F**k is they touch or not? Women should love their bodies and their curves not find something else to hate… I’m skinny 115 lbs, and 5’2” my thighs touch so am I considered fat now? I honestly think curves are beautiful, I might be skinny but I have hips and thighs and ass and I wouldn’t change that at all!!
This is ridiculous -___- -
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Dana Schneider 5 months ago
I’ve had my share of body issues, but I’m so glad that I’ve never, not once in my life, obsessed about my lack of thigh gap. In fact, I’ve never even thought about it untill I read this post, and I will forget it just as quickly. Do people really have to invent more body issues to obsess over?
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Margo Ess 5 months ago
Ugh.
I recommend everyone stop and immediately go watch this video of a tiny puppy who’s so excited to eat his food that he can’t keep his wee bitty paws on the ground. There, that’s better.
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