Appropriate apparel?

Bentley2718

I think that even the very "fit" people ought not be wearing leggings without shorts or a longer shirt over them. The thing is that whoever is wearing them may as well be naked because absolutely nothing is left up to the imagination. Men are visually stimulated and seeing a naked rear end whether it be blue, purple, pink, black or green is irrelevant. My husband quit the gym we were at because of the poor choices women made in their workout attire. He would get so frustrated! I guess I am pretty lucky there......I even struggle with the ones that wear leggings and a sport bra.....I mean, really??? I feel tempted to go put a dollar in their strap!! LOL But, I also have to realize that they are obviously comfortable in what THEY are wearing, or else they wouldn't be wearing it!! I have to get the plank out of my own eye before I can point out the splinter in someone elses :-)

I admire a woman who is concerned about whether or not what she is wearing is appropriate; I go through it everyday too, so kuddos to you!! I love leggings, because they ARE so comfy and don't go up my crack when I am walking. They also keep my shorts from going up my crack or riding up my thighs and they are great for blocking chilly wind. It's important to be comfortable when working out, but I also try to be mindful of all the men I know (or don't know) that I may come in contact with.

for the record, ladies and gentlemen, the above posting is what is known as "perpetuation of rape culture". wherein what a person is wearing not only allows you to judge them and their sexual proclivities, but ALSO makes it "ok" if they get sexually assulted. after all, if they didn't forget their burka in the morning, then men wouldn't get ideas and be lead to mindlessly assult them. poor boys, all of those masculine urges.

this is NOT ok. if you're not comfortable without shorts on, then that's fine - hey i'm not either. but it is NOT OK to judge someone's sexuality or to insinuate that someone is "asking for it" or is a stripper b/c she's dressed how she feels comfortable. you're insulting women's freedom of choice AND you're insulting MEN'S basic HUMANITY with this kind of thought. and that IS. NOT. OK.

Personally, I think this is a bit of a stretch. A lot of men are visually stimulated, and the vast majority of them are perfectly capable of behaving like reasonable, civilized human beings, even in the face of visual stimulation. Does it make some of them uncomfortable when they see women in certain attire? Clearly it makes the commenter's husband uncomfortable, and that is unfortunate for him. Does this condone men who use what a woman is wearing as an excuse to assault them? No. Does it mean (or even imply) that women shouldn't be free to wear what they want? No. Moreover, the commentor also goes out of her way to say that she is in no position to judge those women (see reference to removing the plank from her eye). Lets not cry sexism, abuse of women, and rape every three seconds, please.

P.S. Before you hang me out to dry, I'd like to mention I'm a sociologist who spent a good deal of time studying partner assault and similar issues. I take sexual assault of people of any gender/sexual orientation/etc. very seriously, but I don't think it pays to go around haranguing people.

SueInAz

I think that even the very "fit" people ought not be wearing leggings without shorts or a longer shirt over them. The thing is that whoever is wearing them may as well be naked because absolutely nothing is left up to the imagination. Men are visually stimulated and seeing a naked rear end whether it be blue, purple, pink, black or green is irrelevant. My husband quit the gym we were at because of the poor choices women made in their workout attire. He would get so frustrated! I guess I am pretty lucky there......I even struggle with the ones that wear leggings and a sport bra.....I mean, really??? I feel tempted to go put a dollar in their strap!! LOL But, I also have to realize that they are obviously comfortable in what THEY are wearing, or else they wouldn't be wearing it!! I have to get the plank out of my own eye before I can point out the splinter in someone elses :-)

I admire a woman who is concerned about whether or not what she is wearing is appropriate; I go through it everyday too, so kuddos to you!! I love leggings, because they ARE so comfy and don't go up my crack when I am walking. They also keep my shorts from going up my crack or riding up my thighs and they are great for blocking chilly wind. It's important to be comfortable when working out, but I also try to be mindful of all the men I know (or don't know) that I may come in contact with.

I literally sat here completely dumbfounded at the backwardness of this. Thankfully enough other people have said what I'm thinking or this would have been a very long winded post. :flowerforyou:

My dad teaches self-defense classes. I would like to point out that most rapists actually choose women in LOOSE fitting clothing as their targets. Time is usually of the essence in a rape attack and tight fitting clothing is not easy to get off of a woman. Women who wear tighter clothing are also more confident and more likely to fight back. Just something to think about.

To the OP, I wear the exact kind of Spandex leggings you're talking about when I'm running at this time of year, usually with a shirt that just about covers my butt. In the summer I wear running shorts and a (usually matching) sports bra. It's just too damn hot here to cover up with a t-shirt. My neighbors can suffer or they can avert their eyes.

infamousmk

I think that even the very "fit" people ought not be wearing leggings without shorts or a longer shirt over them. The thing is that whoever is wearing them may as well be naked because absolutely nothing is left up to the imagination. Men are visually stimulated and seeing a naked rear end whether it be blue, purple, pink, black or green is irrelevant. My husband quit the gym we were at because of the poor choices women made in their workout attire. He would get so frustrated! I guess I am pretty lucky there......I even struggle with the ones that wear leggings and a sport bra.....I mean, really??? I feel tempted to go put a dollar in their strap!! LOL But, I also have to realize that they are obviously comfortable in what THEY are wearing, or else they wouldn't be wearing it!! I have to get the plank out of my own eye before I can point out the splinter in someone elses :-)

I admire a woman who is concerned about whether or not what she is wearing is appropriate; I go through it everyday too, so kuddos to you!! I love leggings, because they ARE so comfy and don't go up my crack when I am walking. They also keep my shorts from going up my crack or riding up my thighs and they are great for blocking chilly wind. It's important to be comfortable when working out, but I also try to be mindful of all the men I know (or don't know) that I may come in contact with.

for the record, ladies and gentlemen, the above posting is what is known as "perpetuation of rape culture". wherein what a person is wearing not only allows you to judge them and their sexual proclivities, but ALSO makes it "ok" if they get sexually assulted. after all, if they didn't forget their burka in the morning, then men wouldn't get ideas and be lead to mindlessly assult them. poor boys, all of those masculine urges.

this is NOT ok. if you're not comfortable without shorts on, then that's fine - hey i'm not either. but it is NOT OK to judge someone's sexuality or to insinuate that someone is "asking for it" or is a stripper b/c she's dressed how she feels comfortable. you're insulting women's freedom of choice AND you're insulting MEN'S basic HUMANITY with this kind of thought. and that IS. NOT. OK.

Personally, I think this is a bit of a stretch. A lot of men are visually stimulated, and the vast majority of them are perfectly capable of behaving like reasonable, civilized human beings, even in the face of visual stimulation. Does it make some of them uncomfortable when they see women in certain attire? Clearly it makes the commenter's husband uncomfortable, and that is unfortunate for him. Does this condone men who use what a woman is wearing as an excuse to assault them? No. Does it mean (or even imply) that women shouldn't be free to wear what they want? No. Moreover, the commentor also goes out of her way to say that she is in no position to judge those women (see reference to removing the plank from her eye). Lets not cry sexism, abuse of women, and rape every three seconds, please.

P.S. Before you hang me out to dry, I'd like to mention I'm a sociologist who spent a good deal of time studying partner assault and similar issues. I take sexual assault of people of any gender/sexual orientation/etc. very seriously, but I don't think it pays to go around haranguing people.

Insinuating that a woman is a stripper because she wears spandex at the gym is NOT OKAY. And what about women who are easily aroused? Should men wear long sleeved shirts so that women who find tattoos sexy aren't forced to battle their urges? The poster's husband's inability to control himself has absolutely nothing to do with what anyone else in the gym is doing, and the onus is on him to manage the situation. Placing fault on the women is just one small step away from placing fault on women for being raped because of their clothing choices, and I, for one, find that incredibly wrong.

misskerouac

I not only agree with everyone who replied to that post but also would like to add...

a lot of people wear those outfits for legit reasons, let's not forget that.

It is INCREDIBLY annoying to use the elliptical or bike with baggy pants, same with some of the other machines.
I wear fitted clothing when I work out. I want to make sure my form is correct, I want to SEE where my arms and back are sitting when I am doing things.

Ladies who wear sports bras and tights don't bother me because (a) I'm in a frigging gym not at the mall (b) most of them seem to be serious fitness enthusiasts who i see looking at themselves and their form when working out, would you fix a car with a blanket on top of it just fumbling around willy nilly?

Just_Dot

WRT the rape culture poster, what Maab said.

Op, wear what's comfy.

Sorry for the brevity, I'm on the arc trainer, my heart rate is 170, I'm sweating bullets, AND I'm wearing spandex. :flowerforyou:

meshashesha2012

wear whatever you want and gets you in the gym. like other people have noted, noone has to look at you at the gym.

i personally dont understand how other people get upset over what others are wearing at the gym. sure i've seen my share of old man balls because i'm reclining on a bench and one happens to walk by wearing short shorts and is commando underneath, but whatever, i giggle about it inside and get back to my workout.

if seeing some random balls or a large body in spandex is the worse thing that someone experiences in their day then they are very very lucky

muddyventures

Personally if a person is on a treadmill or in the gym really working out, who cares as long as they are modest (my own conviction)

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Personally I think that people should work out in whatever they're comfortable in as long as your vag or twig and berries aren't hanging out and that all underwear is covered (for example, a sports bra is still a bra). but that's just me, and I don't disparage anyone who thinks differently.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I think that even the very "fit" people ought not be wearing leggings without shorts or a longer shirt over them. The thing is that whoever is wearing them may as well be naked because absolutely nothing is left up to the imagination. Men are visually stimulated and seeing a naked rear end whether it be blue, purple, pink, black or green is irrelevant. My husband quit the gym we were at because of the poor choices women made in their workout attire. He would get so frustrated! I guess I am pretty lucky there......I even struggle with the ones that wear leggings and a sport bra.....I mean, really??? I feel tempted to go put a dollar in their strap!! LOL But, I also have to realize that they are obviously comfortable in what THEY are wearing, or else they wouldn't be wearing it!! I have to get the plank out of my own eye before I can point out the splinter in someone elses :-)

I admire a woman who is concerned about whether or not what she is wearing is appropriate; I go through it everyday too, so kuddos to you!! I love leggings, because they ARE so comfy and don't go up my crack when I am walking. They also keep my shorts from going up my crack or riding up my thighs and they are great for blocking chilly wind. It's important to be comfortable when working out, but I also try to be mindful of all the men I know (or don't know) that I may come in contact with.

for the record, ladies and gentlemen, the above posting is what is known as "perpetuation of rape culture". wherein what a person is wearing not only allows you to judge them and their sexual proclivities, but ALSO makes it "ok" if they get sexually assulted. after all, if they didn't forget their burka in the morning, then men wouldn't get ideas and be lead to mindlessly assult them. poor boys, all of those masculine urges.

this is NOT ok. if you're not comfortable without shorts on, then that's fine - hey i'm not either. but it is NOT OK to judge someone's sexuality or to insinuate that someone is "asking for it" or is a stripper b/c she's dressed how she feels comfortable. you're insulting women's freedom of choice AND you're insulting MEN'S basic HUMANITY with this kind of thought. and that IS. NOT. OK.

Personally, I think this is a bit of a stretch. A lot of men are visually stimulated, and the vast majority of them are perfectly capable of behaving like reasonable, civilized human beings, even in the face of visual stimulation. Does it make some of them uncomfortable when they see women in certain attire? Clearly it makes the commenter's husband uncomfortable, and that is unfortunate for him. Does this condone men who use what a woman is wearing as an excuse to assault them? No. Does it mean (or even imply) that women shouldn't be free to wear what they want? No. Moreover, the commentor also goes out of her way to say that she is in no position to judge those women (see reference to removing the plank from her eye). Lets not cry sexism, abuse of women, and rape every three seconds, please.

P.S. Before you hang me out to dry, I'd like to mention I'm a sociologist who spent a good deal of time studying partner assault and similar issues. I take sexual assault of people of any gender/sexual orientation/etc. very seriously, but I don't think it pays to go around haranguing people.

So when you say that someone is dressed like a stripper for wearing what may or may not be actual gym appropriate attire depending solely on opinion and the climate of your gym, but then following it up with "but I'm not judging anyone" means that you aren't judging anyone? No, sorry, that's like saying "I'm not being racist or anything but all [pick a race] are [pick an insulting stereotype}." Or saying "I'm not trying to offend anyone, but every woman with red hair is a flaming *kitten*, bat **** crazy, ginger b!tch . . . but no offense so we're still friends right?" And then blaming women for making her husband uncomfortable because he can't look away?!?

On another note, as a group fit instrutor we are instructed to wear tight fitting clothing so that as we're going through the cheorography it's easier for our participants to see form. I have 2 pair of loose fitting shorts the first climb up my *kitten* and I only wear for running and the second would totally show off my cootch in the middle of class when I was in a proper squat or stretching, and large tee shirts are uncomfortable or get caught up on my equipment. If my form fitting shorts and tanks make you uncomfortable you need to pack up your insecurites and own them, don't try to lay your baggage on me.

worej

Do I look lovely in them? No. Are they the most comfortable thing I've ever wore while working out? Yes.

Wear them. If someone has a problem with it, that's their problem. I get so annoyed with the "I don't want to see it" crowd.

Natihilator

I feel tempted to go put a dollar in their strap!!

Oh my god, just no words except, please don't do that...ever...I'm sorry your own insecurities make you view a woman in a sports bra and leggings as a stripper, that is just so very sad

for the record, ladies and gentlemen, the above posting is what is known as "perpetuation of rape culture". wherein what a person is wearing not only allows you to judge them and their sexual proclivities, but ALSO makes it "ok" if they get sexually assulted. after all, if they didn't forget their burka in the morning, then men wouldn't get ideas and be lead to mindlessly assult them. poor boys, all of those masculine urges.

this is NOT ok. if you're not comfortable without shorts on, then that's fine - hey i'm not either. but it is NOT OK to judge someone's sexuality or to insinuate that someone is "asking for it" or is a stripper b/c she's dressed how she feels comfortable. you're insulting women's freedom of choice AND you're insulting MEN'S basic HUMANITY with this kind of thought. and that IS. NOT. OK.

Very well said, *applauds*

victoria4321

I have a really good friend that I met at the gym 10 year ago. I was super fit running all the time and lifting weights. She was short like me and weighted about 130 lbs more than I. I always covered up my body, Big tees, long pants, shorts in the summer. But you never saw boobs or belly out of me. Her, this woman wore lycra tight pants, bra tops you name it. One day I asked her why she wore such tight clothes and how she was comfortable in them. I was just so shy and the opposite. She said to me, I weigh 250 lbs with a big tee shirt on or with out it. I'm comfortable working out in this and it doesn't feel constricting in anyway. I"m fat and no XL tee shirt is going to hide that fact, i might as well be comfy and cool while working out. I'm here to feel good not worry that my lycra is too tight! Amen to her. To each their own.

Having said that, I prefer modesty... it's just me. But not my friend Debbie... bless her for being her!

Be you and don't worry about the rest.

I always say the same thing! At the beach I never had an issue with a bikini even when I weighed close to 170. If I wear a one piece or two piece I still look the same size so I wear whatever I want. Who wants a weird one piece tan line anyway.

worej

I think that even the very "fit" people ought not be wearing leggings without shorts or a longer shirt over them. The thing is that whoever is wearing them may as well be naked because absolutely nothing is left up to the imagination. Men are visually stimulated and seeing a naked rear end whether it be blue, purple, pink, black or green is irrelevant. My husband quit the gym we were at because of the poor choices women made in their workout attire. He would get so frustrated! I guess I am pretty lucky there......I even struggle with the ones that wear leggings and a sport bra.....I mean, really??? I feel tempted to go put a dollar in their strap!! LOL But, I also have to realize that they are obviously comfortable in what THEY are wearing, or else they wouldn't be wearing it!! I have to get the plank out of my own eye before I can point out the splinter in someone elses :-)

I admire a woman who is concerned about whether or not what she is wearing is appropriate; I go through it everyday too, so kuddos to you!! I love leggings, because they ARE so comfy and don't go up my crack when I am walking. They also keep my shorts from going up my crack or riding up my thighs and they are great for blocking chilly wind. It's important to be comfortable when working out, but I also try to be mindful of all the men I know (or don't know) that I may come in contact with.

You're not honestly suggesting that men cannot control their urges around women wearing spandex at the gym, are you? And that somehow women are at fault for it? AND that women who are wearing spandex and sports bras are akin to strippers?

I cannot respond to this with kind words.

Thank you for pointing out how ridiculous the first poster is being. Men are responsible for controling their urges regardless of what a woman is wearing. This line of thought is the "blame the victim" mentality. If a woman is raped after working out in leggings then it is NOT HER FAULT.

While I 100%, unquestioningly agree with what you wrote, I would like to point out that she didn't necessarily promote rape culture. She didn't say they were in danger of being raped, or that they'd deserve it if they got it. She said it made him uncomfortable, and that it was frustrating to him... not that he felt incapable of resisting them or something like that. She wasn't clear on it. He might just have been uncomfortable because he finds it unladylike. Which is still BS. But let's not jump to conclusions.

(I totally agree with you though on the rest of it, just not on the assumption that that's what she meant.)

ehensarling17

I honestly don't get why any one has the right to care what others are wearing? How about we start worrying about ourselves and leave others out of it? What do you care if someone wears yoga pants to grocery shop? Or a tight top to the gym? Stop staring and it wont bother you. Live your own life people!

Yes!! I was thinking "So wait, now I'm not 'allowed' to go the grocery or Target before/after my workout because I'm wearing exercise clothes? Who made everyone else the clothing police?"