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Feb 14

By ignoring gym harassment we’re dismissing the experiences of thousands of women – Metro.co.uk

Testosterone Comments Off on By ignoring gym harassment we’re dismissing the experiences of thousands of women – Metro.co.uk

I actually wonder whether it might not be the gyms themselves that are the problem, but rather gym culture as a whole (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Whether its being mansplained in the weight area, catcalled on a run, being stared at, stood behind or photographed as we squat, gym harassment is something that most women are entirely accustomed to.

I am not the first person to call it out and I doubt Ill be the last, yet its still not being taken seriously.

It certainly wasnt the other week, when GymBox member Elena Bunbury sent them a complaint after experiencing harassment in her local branch. Allegedly, one of the trainers had approached Elena and her friend to ask about their routine, the conversation got heated and culminated in him calling their workout pathetic, before he threw weights around them onto the floor and stared at the pair while they finished.

Elena shared the response on Twitter, in which she was told by the (female, depressingly) manager: from my personal point of view it is an unfortunate situation where a guy was rude to you, but it could have happened anywhere. We are in a gym where testosterone levels are high especially during workouts. This mean (sic) that reactions to situations can be a bit extreme especially for men.

Gendered harassment in the gym is an issue. I know, because Ive experienced it. While documenting my marathon training online, Ive been given tonnes of unsolicited advice. Damn near every time I run in public, I am shouted at by men in vans. I began to hate the weights area of my gym because of the stares and comments from large groups of men (Ive subsequently joined another gym).

It is also something thats being dismissed and shrugged off as just one of those things. I know this, too, because as soon as I shared my gym harassment story I was inundated with comments from (mostly) men, and a woman called Janice, telling me that I was too ugly to be harassed, that I should take it as a compliment and that it probably doesnt even really happen anyway.

I was incredibly disheartened by the response but it didnt surprise me. I actually wonder whether it might not be the gyms themselves that are the problem, but rather gym culture as a whole.

Just look at the messaging thats out there: Twitter user Isabell Holling shared a photo from the changing room in a Nuffield gym where a sign read: Act like a lady, lift like a boss, a well meaning inspirational quote that actually just served to perpetuate the idea that women dont belong in the weight section.

And thats a narrative thats everywhere:takeLove Island, for example. Every day we see the boys sweating in the gym, and despite the fact the girls clearlyexercise, their workouts are never aired.

Contrary to the somewhat outdated narrative the fitness industry perpetuates, it isnt just men who want to lift weights, for instance.The societal pressure to have the dimensions of a chocolate finger have eased in recent years, and the fitness benefits of lifting weights are increasingly widely known.

A 2018 study from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that 40 per cent of women in the UK arent getting enough exercise, but when you consider that a survey conducted by FitRated last year suggested that seven out of 10 women have had an experience at the gym that made them uncomfortable from being watched, filmed, followed and flirted with, to receiving unsolicited advice and even being masturbated over in plain sight is it any wonder were avoiding the gym?

Some companies have taken steps to prevent harassment occurring steps that are, in my opinion, totally misguided.

PureGym, who announced they had reached 1 million members in 2018, are apparently changing the layout in some of their gyms, adding lighting and making them more open plan, as well as introducing female-only areas.

Because clearly its easier to redesign a buildings infrastructure than it is to ask men to control their testosterone, or whatever it is that were blaming this issue on, and leave women alone while theyre working out.

Segregation is not the solution. Long-term, they key is to teach girls, and critically boys, that its not just men who can lift, and sweat, and be strong. But by ignoring gym harassment here and now, we are dismissing the experiences of tens of thousands of women, denying them the right to endorphins (a travesty), as well as equality.

As was pointed out in that email from GymBox: this could have happened anywhere. Thats the reality of being a woman and big steps need to be taken to ensure it changes namely, we stop blaming mens bad behaviour on their testosterone. Or on the location of the changing room. Or on anything other than the men responsible.

Because somehow I dont think itd go down too well if I were to accidentally drop a barbell on the foot of a man standing too close behind me, and then blame it on my hormones.

MORE: Ethnic minorities are not getting enough physical activity because of deep-rooted inequalities

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By ignoring gym harassment we're dismissing the experiences of thousands of women - Metro.co.uk

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