In these days of equality............................

blobby10

...how do gyms get away with designated 'women only' sections? And also how on earth can a gym specify "Women Only"? Just imagine the furore if a gym advertised in big blue letters on its front windows "Men Only"!! There would be uproar! Is it me????!

ps this genuinely puzzles me and Im not intending to start a debate on womens rights or mens rights or the rights and wrongs of equality!! It just seems like one rule for some and one for the others!

jemhh

I've never been to a gym with a women only section. The only women only section of my gym is the locker room and even that isn't totally women only since boys up to age 4 are allowed in it.

discretekim

I assume it is the same debate as women only universities. They seem outdated but rest on historical ideals.

kwtilbury

Because many women are self-conscious and don't want creepy guys staring at them. I get it.

AsISmile

I know of a women only gym. It is visited by a lot of muslim ladies while the men patiently wait downstairs in the designated waiting area.
It is apparently a big hit.

I'm however not familiar with women only sections.

malibu927

The women's only section at my gym is more cardio/weight machines. There are a couple benches and a Smith machine. It was good for me at first because I felt intimidated, especially when I started lifting with the smallest dumbbells, around men. Now I have to leave there to use the squat rack.

Also, the only reason there's a section is because it used to be a women's only chain in the area until they purchased a Bally's that had recently closed and took on their clientele.

msf74

blobby10 wrote: »

...how do gyms get away with designated 'women only' sections? And also how on earth can a gym specify "Women Only"? Just imagine the furore if a gym advertised in big blue letters on its front windows "Men Only"!! There would be uproar! Is it me????!

I'm presuming it is because gyms, and particularly free weights / weights machines areas, tend to have been dominated by men in the past meaning that specific "Men Only" gyms were not necessary (men in particular being already catered for in this area). This in turn resulted in a barrier to women using the equipment in the past which leads to an unequal situation which having "Women Only" services seeks to rectify.

I don't know many men who really object to this phenomenon personally. Being pro-woman doesn't mean being anti-man.

kindrabbit

We have a womens' only gym in our town. It's called Curves and from what I understand it's frequented mostly by older ladies. It's actually just closed down so I don't think it can of done that well. I do think there are some women who would feel more confident in a female only environment but I think that's mostly because they have the misconception that gyms are full of meat heads who lear and giggle at any woman attempting to get fit. Once you get over the idea that anybody else is remotely interested in what you are doing that fear goes away.

cheshirecatastrophe

We have a gym here that rotates between women's days and--HORROR OF HORRORS--men's days.

No one has picketed or rioted.

In areas with significant Muslim populations, women's only gyms or gym hours allow women who wear hijab to exercise in tank tops and shorts instead of full-body covering.

(ETA: That is of course also true in areas with small Muslim populations, but less likely to be the reason for the policy.)

blobby10

Thanks for all your comments - I guess i'm lucky that I'm at an age (46) where being in mixed areas really doesn't bother me - I get on with what I need to and hardly notice anyone else,male or female! I can understand how it would bother some people - my mother would rather die than visit a mixed gym but she is nearly 70!

_lyndseybrooke_

Every gym has a women's only section, even if it's not clearly marked - it's where all the treadmills and ellipticals are. Okay, I kid, but it is mostly women you see on those dreaded machines.

It doesn't make me angry, offended, etc., but I think it's pretty stupid. It's basically telling women they should feel uncomfortable working out around men, which is ridiculous. It may make some women feel more comfortable to be separated, so they may like having a women's section, but the fact remains that there's no reason for them to feel uncomfortable not being separated.

I feel the same way about women who refuse to get into an elevator when it's only men on there. I've had many woman admit to me that they do this. Who are these chicks that assume all men are rapists and/or murderers? Having a penis doesn't make you a dangerous person. These women may call it being safe/cautious, but I call it being paranoid and, quite frankly, insulting.

jemhh

I have mixed feelings on this.

On one hand, my opinion is that a private business would be stupid to ignore a potential moneymaker like creating a women's only section if it would increase its membership sales. The accountant in me says that there are some women who will be more comfortable exercising without men around no matter what, so why not capitalize off of that?

On the other hand, the eye-rolling "give me a break" part of me thinks that a women's only section just enforces the idea that women should be embarrassed or nervous around men, which I think is utter garbage, both at the gym and outside of it. @LyndseyLovesToLift pretty much summed up my thoughts on this:

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

I feel the same way about women who refuse to get into an elevator when it's only men on there. I've had many woman admit to me that they do this. Who are these chicks that assume all men are rapists and/or murderers? Having a penis doesn't make you a dangerous person. These women may call it being safe/cautious, but I call it being paranoid and, quite frankly, insulting.

richln

Obvious free market capitalism is obvious.

CSARdiver

As long as this is a private establishment they are perfectly within their rights to promote such a policy. Personally I believe this makes the problem worse by not confronting it head on. It's a short term solution and will likely not end well for the gym as it is exclusionary.

This simply highlights the stupidity of the politically correct movement. It is perfectly acceptably to engage in discrimination as long as it does not offend the protected group of the day.

WhiskyMania

At times, to be culturally and religiously sensitive. My pool has a women only night, so the women of our Muslim community can go for a swim. There's also a family only evening, would you get your knicker's in a twist about that?

There's a Platinum gym at my dad's gym, which a section just for older people, it's not to be discriminatory, it's to encourage those who may find the main gym scary . If special evenings/areas, make exercise and being healthy less intimidating and more inclusive, who cares?

Sweet_Heresy

My friend's gym has a women's only section with a bunch of cardio machines, ridiculously light free weights, and a machine or 2...including this pull down machine that you do on your knees, which (as immature as I am) kind of made me giggle.

I think it sucks and I'd rather use the big kid weight area, but I know some women are self conscious about working out in front of men...so whatever floats yer boat I guess.

professionalHobbyist

jemhh wrote: »

I have mixed feelings on this.

On one hand, my opinion is that a private business would be stupid to ignore a potential moneymaker like creating a women's only section if it would increase its membership sales. The accountant in me says that there are some women who will be more comfortable exercising without men around no matter what, so why not capitalize off of that?

On the other hand, the eye-rolling "give me a break" part of me thinks that a women's only section just enforces the idea that women should be embarrassed or nervous around men, which I think is utter garbage, both at the gym and outside of it. @LyndseyLovesToLift pretty much summed up my thoughts on this:

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

I feel the same way about women who refuse to get into an elevator when it's only men on there. I've had many woman admit to me that they do this. Who are these chicks that assume all men are rapists and/or murderers? Having a penis doesn't make you a dangerous person. These women may call it being safe/cautious, but I call it being paranoid and, quite frankly, insulting.

Thank you for posting that

At the same time as a father I also raised my daughter to be cautious in an evil world. It was just days ago the kid executed 9 people in the church in Charleston SC. He looked like a muppet, no dangerous looking guy.

We don't have ladies sections at gyms I have been in.

It felt like the Yoga class was a women's only class

And I have thought about a Zumba class but know I would probably need to stay in the back out of harms was of falling on anyone.

The insecurities are not gender specific. I don't want to look like an uncoordinated galoot in front of a bunch of women, even if I am!

I always speak or smile if I see a woman in the free weight section to just be courteous.

It just seems like getting fit has enough challenging things, feeling welcome or accepted should not be one of them.

tomatoey

Well first, attitude in the weight room is far from an irrelevant historical fact. Still happens. So does body judgement, which women are more vulnerable to than men for lots of reasons. And some women feel self conscious, initially. I know I SERIOUSLY appreciated the women's room at my old gym. That's where I felt totally ok trying out different dumbbell exercises and looking stupid and fat and sweaty. once I got comfortable, and saw some results, moving to the big room was no problem.

Look, fact is women need to do resistance training for health (including osteoporosis prevention). Lots don't do it for the reasons I mentioned, plus others. I see rooms like that as a question of improving access to fitness for a group that experiences a few obstacles that way.

tomatoey

jemhh wrote: »

I have mixed feelings on this.

On one hand, my opinion is that a private business would be stupid to ignore a potential moneymaker like creating a women's only section if it would increase its membership sales. The accountant in me says that there are some women who will be more comfortable exercising without men around no matter what, so why not capitalize off of that?

On the other hand, the eye-rolling "give me a break" part of me thinks that a women's only section just enforces the idea that women should be embarrassed or nervous around men, which I think is utter garbage, both at the gym and outside of it. @LyndseyLovesToLift pretty much summed up my thoughts on this:

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

I feel the same way about women who refuse to get into an elevator when it's only men on there. I've had many woman admit to me that they do this. Who are these chicks that assume all men are rapists and/or murderers? Having a penis doesn't make you a dangerous person. These women may call it being safe/cautious, but I call it being paranoid and, quite frankly, insulting.

'Re your second point - I don't think it does. Most women don't stay in that room for long, once they see results in themselves and others who lift . I really feel it helps level things out overall

tomatoey

professionalHobbyist wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

I have mixed feelings on this.

On one hand, my opinion is that a private business would be stupid to ignore a potential moneymaker like creating a women's only section if it would increase its membership sales. The accountant in me says that there are some women who will be more comfortable exercising without men around no matter what, so why not capitalize off of that?

On the other hand, the eye-rolling "give me a break" part of me thinks that a women's only section just enforces the idea that women should be embarrassed or nervous around men, which I think is utter garbage, both at the gym and outside of it. @LyndseyLovesToLift pretty much summed up my thoughts on this:

LyndseyLovesToLift wrote: »

I feel the same way about women who refuse to get into an elevator when it's only men on there. I've had many woman admit to me that they do this. Who are these chicks that assume all men are rapists and/or murderers? Having a penis doesn't make you a dangerous person. These women may call it being safe/cautious, but I call it being paranoid and, quite frankly, insulting.

Thank you for posting that

At the same time as a father I also raised my daughter to be cautious in an evil world. It was just days ago the kid executed 9 people in the church in Charleston SC. He looked like a muppet, no dangerous looking guy.

We don't have ladies sections at gyms I have been in.

It felt like the Yoga class was a women's only class

And I have thought about a Zumba class but know I would probably need to stay in the back out of harms was of falling on anyone.

The insecurities are not gender specific. I don't want to look like an uncoordinated galoot in front of a bunch of women, even if I am!

I always speak or smile if I see a woman in the free weight section to just be courteous.

It just seems like getting fit has enough challenging things, feeling welcome or accepted should not be one of them.

It's true that most people who start feel a bit out of sorts, but women have a few additional things to deal with

terar21

Sadly a lot of women really do feel intimidated in the weight section of the gym. They don't feel knowledgable and think they'll look stupid or be in the way. I think lifting less has a lot to do with it. Last time I was home, I dragged my mom into the weights section and showed her what to do. I had to force her to lift over 5 pounds...which is perplexing because groceries weigh more.

We're also pretty evolved here on MFP. Most women still think anything but Pilates will makes them blow up into Arnold.

I hate that there has to be a women's only section but if it encourages them to feel more comfortable with weights and can help them build to heavier weights, I'm ok with it.

Plus there's the religious factor mentioned by others. I feel overheated in the gym half the time in shorts and a tank. I can't imagine the doing my cardio or even lifting covered from head to toe. If there's a place for women with clothing restrictions to have a section of their own where they can wear more workout-type clothing, I think it's a positive.

sofaking6

Karen_libert wrote: »

We have a womens' only gym in our town. It's called Curves and from what I understand it's frequented mostly by older ladies. It's actually just closed down so I don't think it can of done that well. I do think there are some women who would feel more confident in a female only environment but I think that's mostly because they have the misconception that gyms are full of meat heads who lear and giggle at any woman attempting to get fit. Once you get over the idea that anybody else is remotely interested in what you are doing that fear goes away.

There is (was) one of those in my neighborhood - I just noticed last week that it has been changed to a UFC gym.

yopeeps025

Went to see OP profile. Completely security protect. I wanted to see OP gender. Guess I can't now.

I don't care about women only gyms and I think only some women do like the ones that use it.

The golds gym I used to have a membership for had a women's section of machines and cardio equipment. This gym also had some female body builders too. The women I notice there did not really use the women's only section.

BrianSharpe

Your post is based on a faulty premise.........gender equality does not yet exist. A significant wage gap still exists and women are routinely subjected to harassment that a significant proportion males still considers to be good natured and funny. I can understand why some women would feel more comfortable is a lewd comment and harassment free environment.

When we truly have equality between the sexes the need for these would disappear but I`ll still be in favour of gender segregated publlic bathrooms.......

SherryTeach

I can't help but be reminded of Ellen Degeneres' skit on Bic for Her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCyw3prIWhc

Unknown

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SherryTeach

I'm seeing there might be reasons why I prefer to work out at home. Too bad my treadmill is a manly black instead of pink or purple.