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Is verbal harassment common at the gym? And do women or men catch more of it?
Replies
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Wow lots of bonus questions... this test I just may pass!
1. No, I have never witnessed, participated in, or been a victim of, verbal harassment at my gym.
2. I think that if something like this happens, the gym staff should address it right away. If they don't address the situation in a timely manner... I would step in and stop it.
The member that is doing the harassment should be asked to leave and membership revoked. Perhaps give the member that was harassed, be given a free month.
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Never seen this at my gym. There are always trainers (who are gym staff) around working with clients, so I imagine anything like this would get shut down pretty quickly.
I worked out at a really old school powerlifting gym on vacation last year that reminded me of the weight room in high school 35 years ago -- no AC, rusty plates and bars, lots of squat racks, multiple platforms). When I first walked in I saw the flags of a ton of military units plus various biker-related decorations, and --- based on my own preconceive notions -- I sort of wondered if the gym culture would be unpleasant. Turns out, it was exactly like my regular gym --- everybody minded their own business and did their thing. There were a lot of big, really strong guys there, but also people who looked like they were just starting out. Once I was there for a while, I noticed signed posters of local athletes of both genders and many ethnicities hanging on the walls, plus a big rainbow flag hanging among the military ones. Seemed like a place pretty much anyone would feel comfortable working out.17 -
I have felt very uncomfortable (harassment is kind of subjective, describing how the interaction made me feel seems more appropriate) at the gym recently. A man has made a few comments such as "you're looking good", "nice job", and winking at me when I got nearby him while doing walking lunges. I wasn't prepared for the comments or the wink. I shot him a confused look considering I've never spoken to this person before and my natural first instinct was to get away asap. I did tell my PT who just said he wasn't surprised. Which made me even more uncomfortable lol. I do my lunges elsewhere now to avoid another interaction with this man.
I am always self conscious about what I am wearing and how I act to try to reduce attention. It makes me feel very objectified which losing weight has only amplified this feeling.14 -
Harassment? No. Other than years ago with gyms pushing memberships and premium packages.
I don't think this it's so much about harassment and more about our general communication skills withering and dying. Like any muscle this needs to be worked and have resistance. It takes practice and multiple failures, but unrealistic expectations of perfection mixed with a tendency toward passive aggression make this challenging.
I do see a movement started pushing back against this - making a clear distinction between assertiveness and harassment.6 -
Nope. A few catty females who thought I was going to get bulky because I was lifting heavy and not going to their group power class.3
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Back in 2012 starting out, my sister and I were stalked daily on our walking and later, our running routes by women who would hurl expletives, from "You (b)itches" to "men thieves" at us as we worked out. Going to the Caltech gym was a place of solace. Zero judgement zone. People mind their own business. Moving further south of Los Angeles, choosing to road run introduced a different element when considering bad drivers attempting to run red lights. We have escaped being run over at the traffic lights crossing over to run a trail VS actually running on road with no sidewalks.
You don't have to know people who will choose to assault you as you workout. An Italian male friend who also runs, witnessed a woman who would consistently attempt to run us over revealed to us, that at times, it's the individual's own sense of self hate transferred to those of us who commit to our lives of fitness, no matter the weather. We don't live in the world of it's too hot, it's raining, it's freezing out ... We knock it out. No excuses. In our cases, the weight room is a "me zone." Road running leaves you open to the general publics moods and physicalisation of those temperaments.9 -
no. thirty years ago women were really not welcome and men were very verbal about it....not now.3
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I have never been harassed. Yes, hit on but they seem to take a polite "no" and then leave you alone. If I witnessed what I thought was harassment I would definitely report it to the manager.1
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I've not been harassed and haven't witnessed it. I'm not going to comment on how often it happens to others though since I have only lived my own experiences.4
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High school weight room, college weight room, local rec center and two for-profit gym memberships. I have never had an issue being harassed, sexually or otherwise.0
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Not really, I like my gym a lot. It's the local University gym, but is open to the community for a small yearly fee. You would expect the college students to be judgmental or rude, but they really just keep to themselves and independently work out. No harassment that I have seen, but there are occasional issues of small locker room theft, and a few parents who drop off unattended, unruly, children and tweenagers while they go into town and run errands. Most of the former, I suspect, is perpetrated by the latter.0
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Never have I witnessed it or had it happen to me. Everyone just ignores me at the gym
well I have had a couple guys make some *hilarious* comments about how little weight I was lifting 0 -
This is been just so positive to read. It's great to hear that the gym culture seems overall a pretty safe space.thirty years ago women were really not welcome and men were very verbal about it....not now.
That was the experience some friends had described to me, long ago in the dark ages, LOL. It's really wonderful to see that changes have happened so gyms are an inclusive safe space for anyone interested in getting in shape. Kind of uplifting to read today, honestly. :-)
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There is a group of young women at my PF who criticize people quite loudly in Spanish. They tried that with me and I shot them the crazy eyes. I know enough to get by.10
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Off and on since the 80's, I've been going to gyms in different states and countries and have not been harassed or witnessed harassment.
Don't get me started on perfume though...6 -
Years ago, when aerobics were all the rage, I had two ladies ask me if I was gay. They said I’d been coming to the class for months and wasn’t ogling the ladies, nor had I asked any of them on a date. So they were beginning to think I was gay and wanted verification.6
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never once have i witnessed nor personally experienced any poor behavior. i see videos of gym shaming and im like...what? who would do that? i find that me, and everyone else...we are just there to do our thing...ear buds in and so focused on ourselves and getting thru our workout...people don't even talk...except to say hi or quick couple of words while getting our shoes on to be friendly.
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As someone else mentioned, I think this thought is more common among people who don't go to the gym. Most people at the gym are there to work out and are paying attention to what they are doing, not what someone else is doing. And when we do speak, it's almost always helpful. I think the thought that people can get harassed is along the same mindset of those who are afraid to go to the gym as an out of shape person for fear of being judged. I think the only judging that happens is.."good for you." We are all just trying to better ourselves however we can.3
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I have never been harassed at the gym. Throughout the course of 9 years of jogging, I think I've gotten "nice rack" comments 2-3 times.1
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High School, College, Overseas x2, Work Gym, New Gym, Body Boot Camp, never been harassed, intimidated. But I go in and get it done. If I see someone doing something that would hurt themselves, ill usually say something or offer a suggestion. Now friends of mine might get or give me a hard time but its all in good fun.
Now if I was to go to say a Planet Fitness, Im sure id get the LUNK ALARM (but they dont judge.........) due to the fact that sometimes I grunt or ill set a weight down louder then normal. So in that case, Id consider it harassment. But i dont go there so............3 -
Not at my gym. When I was younger (and cuter), guys would offer to spot me or show me how to do moves correctly and then ask me out. Now that I am in my 50s, they are still nice, but call me ma'am and offer words of encouragement for my hard work to keep fit. They are also gracious enough to help out when someone has left a 75 lb. plate on an exercise machine that I can't safely lift off myself. Overall, great experience over the course of 35 some odd years of going to the gym.8
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High School, College, Overseas x2, Work Gym, New Gym, Body Boot Camp, never been harassed, intimidated. But I go in and get it done. If I see someone doing something that would hurt themselves, ill usually say something or offer a suggestion. Now friends of mine might get or give me a hard time but its all in good fun.
Now if I was to go to say a Planet Fitness, Im sure id get the LUNK ALARM (but they dont judge.........) due to the fact that sometimes I grunt or ill set a weight down louder then normal. So in that case, Id consider it harassment. But i dont go there so............
It's okay. You can sign up with planet fitness and lunk to your heart's content without fear or trepidation. They never actually sound the lunk alarm in real life. Never I tell you.
Why would I sign up for a gym membership, when my work has two gyms for FREE and theres all of the outdoors to run in????
Plus when i lift legs, I wear silkies aka ranger panties!1 -
High School, College, Overseas x2, Work Gym, New Gym, Body Boot Camp, never been harassed, intimidated. But I go in and get it done. If I see someone doing something that would hurt themselves, ill usually say something or offer a suggestion. Now friends of mine might get or give me a hard time but its all in good fun.
Now if I was to go to say a Planet Fitness, Im sure id get the LUNK ALARM (but they dont judge.........) due to the fact that sometimes I grunt or ill set a weight down louder then normal. So in that case, Id consider it harassment. But i dont go there so............
It's okay. You can sign up with planet fitness and lunk to your heart's content without fear or trepidation. They never actually sound the lunk alarm in real life. Never I tell you.
Why would I sign up for a gym membership, when my work has two gyms for FREE and theres all of the outdoors to run in????
Plus when i lift legs, I wear silkies aka ranger panties!
Silk ranger panties are allowed at Planet Fitness. Also allowed are Euro spandex bathing panties typically seen on beaches on the mediterannean coast. As long as you wear a pair of American boxers over them and only allow a hint of viewing during your normal exercise activities, as you do now.
If you ever get a new job with no gym or it's raining outside, you should go to Planet Fitness so you can tell all the people here that it's alright after all because they really have the wrong idea.
I don't believe they are.
Especially since they are customarily worn commando.2 -
High School, College, Overseas x2, Work Gym, New Gym, Body Boot Camp, never been harassed, intimidated. But I go in and get it done. If I see someone doing something that would hurt themselves, ill usually say something or offer a suggestion. Now friends of mine might get or give me a hard time but its all in good fun.
Now if I was to go to say a Planet Fitness, Im sure id get the LUNK ALARM (but they dont judge.........) due to the fact that sometimes I grunt or ill set a weight down louder then normal. So in that case, Id consider it harassment. But i dont go there so............
It's okay. You can sign up with planet fitness and lunk to your heart's content without fear or trepidation. They never actually sound the lunk alarm in real life. Never I tell you.
Why would I sign up for a gym membership, when my work has two gyms for FREE and theres all of the outdoors to run in????
Plus when i lift legs, I wear silkies aka ranger panties!
Silk ranger panties are allowed at Planet Fitness. Also allowed are Euro spandex bathing panties typically seen on beaches on the mediterannean coast. As long as you wear a pair of American boxers over them and only allow a hint of viewing during your normal exercise activities, as you do now.
If you ever get a new job with no gym or it's raining outside, you should go to Planet Fitness so you can tell all the people here that it's alright after all because they really have the wrong idea.
Oh no, they arent covered up with another layer, ROM is why i wear them during LEG day.0 -
stanmann571 wrote: »High School, College, Overseas x2, Work Gym, New Gym, Body Boot Camp, never been harassed, intimidated. But I go in and get it done. If I see someone doing something that would hurt themselves, ill usually say something or offer a suggestion. Now friends of mine might get or give me a hard time but its all in good fun.
Now if I was to go to say a Planet Fitness, Im sure id get the LUNK ALARM (but they dont judge.........) due to the fact that sometimes I grunt or ill set a weight down louder then normal. So in that case, Id consider it harassment. But i dont go there so............
It's okay. You can sign up with planet fitness and lunk to your heart's content without fear or trepidation. They never actually sound the lunk alarm in real life. Never I tell you.
Why would I sign up for a gym membership, when my work has two gyms for FREE and theres all of the outdoors to run in????
Plus when i lift legs, I wear silkies aka ranger panties!
Silk ranger panties are allowed at Planet Fitness. Also allowed are Euro spandex bathing panties typically seen on beaches on the mediterannean coast. As long as you wear a pair of American boxers over them and only allow a hint of viewing during your normal exercise activities, as you do now.
If you ever get a new job with no gym or it's raining outside, you should go to Planet Fitness so you can tell all the people here that it's alright after all because they really have the wrong idea.
I don't believe they are.
Especially since they are customarily worn commando.
I'm not following you. Pics?
https://www.google.com/search?q=ranger+panties&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjb7tTmytPbAhUEQawKHebpAX8Q_AUICygC&biw=1900&bih=931
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stanmann571 wrote: »High School, College, Overseas x2, Work Gym, New Gym, Body Boot Camp, never been harassed, intimidated. But I go in and get it done. If I see someone doing something that would hurt themselves, ill usually say something or offer a suggestion. Now friends of mine might get or give me a hard time but its all in good fun.
Now if I was to go to say a Planet Fitness, Im sure id get the LUNK ALARM (but they dont judge.........) due to the fact that sometimes I grunt or ill set a weight down louder then normal. So in that case, Id consider it harassment. But i dont go there so............
It's okay. You can sign up with planet fitness and lunk to your heart's content without fear or trepidation. They never actually sound the lunk alarm in real life. Never I tell you.
Why would I sign up for a gym membership, when my work has two gyms for FREE and theres all of the outdoors to run in????
Plus when i lift legs, I wear silkies aka ranger panties!
Silk ranger panties are allowed at Planet Fitness. Also allowed are Euro spandex bathing panties typically seen on beaches on the mediterannean coast. As long as you wear a pair of American boxers over them and only allow a hint of viewing during your normal exercise activities, as you do now.
If you ever get a new job with no gym or it's raining outside, you should go to Planet Fitness so you can tell all the people here that it's alright after all because they really have the wrong idea.
I don't believe they are.
Especially since they are customarily worn commando.
I'm not following you. Pics?
Some things you just can't unsee.2 -
I've had people say rude things under their breath as they walk past our fitness class (all plus sized people). I don't know if they are just mad that we reserve equipment and they can't use said equipment at that time, or if we take up a bit of space and they get mad that they have to walk around us to get to the free weights? Either way it sucks. 95% of the time we are fine though.6
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Other than a lady in the locker room talking (loudly) to the other ladies across the room about how and why it's best to use individual dumbells over barbells (she had just watched me doing a SL 5x5 routine), none. And I been gong to gyms for a looong time.1
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I haven't experienced verbal harassment while at the gym, but sometimes the fellas are all too willing to give unsolicited advice about weight training to a woman when she is working out alone.8
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I have been a member of three different gyms in my area and have worked out at about five including a crossfit gym. No one has ever been directly rude, but by far the rudest people where at an all-women gym. So catty. Also one time at an Anytime this dude kept creeping closer and closer to me and my mom while we were using the squat rack. Creepy but he didn't say anything to us, just stared while we did squats.0
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