The internet is a breeding ground for slang, and just when you think you’ve caught up, a new term emerges, leaving you scratching your head. Recently, “big back” has been making the rounds, particularly on platforms like TikTok, sparking confusion and curiosity. So, what exactly does “big back” mean? It’s more than just a literal description; it’s a phrase loaded with social commentary and humor, evolving from body positivity to something a bit more nuanced, even ironic.
To understand “big back,” it’s helpful to look at its origins and how it’s been used. Initially, the phrase gained traction alongside posts showcasing large meals. TikTok users started sharing slideshows of the food they were consuming, often captioning them with “my big back moments.” The initial intention seemed to be a lighthearted acknowledgment of a hearty appetite, perhaps even a playful self-deprecation about indulging in larger portions. There was often a sense of shared experience, a community of people who enjoyed eating and weren’t afraid to show it.
However, as often happens with internet trends, the meaning began to shift. Ironically, the portions of food featured in these “big back” videos started to shrink. What was once a celebration of enjoying substantial meals morphed into something quite different. Regular, even modest, servings were suddenly being labeled as “back-multiplying,” implying they were excessively large and would contribute to having a “big back.” This evolution highlights a subtle but significant shift in the trend’s tone. It moved from a potentially body-positive space, where people could openly enjoy food, to one that, for some, started to echo diet culture anxieties, albeit in a masked, almost satirical way.
But where does the term “big back” itself come from, and why “back”? The connection might not be immediately obvious. The phrase actually has roots in British slang, where “big back” was once used as a colloquialism for a large butt. Considering the cultural fascination with buttocks, particularly female buttocks, in recent years, this connection starts to make sense. Our society, especially in the age of social media, is undeniably fixated on certain body parts. This fascination, however, is layered with complex historical and social baggage.
It’s crucial to acknowledge the historical context surrounding body image and the idealization of certain body types. The hyper-sexualization and fetishization of the Black female body, particularly the buttocks, has deep roots in slavery and racist ideologies. The story of Saartje Baartman, a Khoikhoi woman who was tragically exhibited as a “freak show” attraction in 19th-century Europe due to her naturally prominent buttocks, serves as a stark reminder of this history. Dubbed the “Venus Hottentot,” Baartman’s body became an object of both fascination and derision, reflecting the prejudiced views of the time. Even as appreciation for larger butts grew in later decades, particularly within popular culture, it often remained within the confines of a sexualized and often racialized gaze.
The rise of figures like Kim Kardashian and the mainstreaming of body positivity in the 2010s seemed to signal a shift. The “thickness” trend, fueled by Brazilian Butt Lift surgeries and songs like Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass,” suggested a broader acceptance of curvier figures. However, this apparent embrace of “fatness” was, and remains, selective. While certain types of fatness, particularly hourglass figures with small waists and large breasts and buttocks, became more socially acceptable, the underlying fatphobia didn’t simply vanish.
This is where the shift from “big butt” to “big back” in the viral trend becomes particularly interesting. “Big back,” in its contemporary internet usage, often refers less to the buttocks and more to the actual back, or torso, widening. This semantic shift is arguably deliberate and carries a layer of social commentary. While jokes directly referencing large butts might be considered less socially acceptable in a climate that ostensibly celebrates body positivity, mocking a “big back” offers a loophole. It targets a less idealized, and perhaps even implicitly “undesirable,” form of fatness.
The “big back” trend, therefore, might be interpreted as a manifestation of lingering fatphobia, repackaged for a supposedly more enlightened era. It allows for jokes about body size under the guise of self-deprecation or humorous exaggeration. By shifting the focus from the “socially acceptable” curves of the buttocks to the less celebrated expanse of the back, the humor subtly reinforces societal preferences and anxieties around body image.
While the “big back” trend on TikTok may seem like lighthearted fun, it’s worth considering its deeper implications. It prompts us to examine how societal attitudes towards different body types continue to evolve, and sometimes, regress. It serves as a reminder that while conversations around body positivity have progressed, subtle forms of fatphobia can still permeate our culture, even in the seemingly innocuous realm of internet memes. The next time you see a “big back” video, take a moment to consider what’s really being said, and what unspoken societal biases might be lurking beneath the humor.
