Small rant about gender stereotypes in the gym....

MellyGibson

I'm a lifter. I LOVE to lift! Today I decided to use a back brace because I have gone up in weights and my lower back has been bothering me a bit. I don't have one of my own, but I know there are a couple at the gym...so I grabbed one and put it on. WAY TOO BIG!
So, I found another one and tried that one on. WAY TOO BIG!

I chuckled and made some comment that it didn't fit right and was told, "That's because women aren't supposed to be lifting heavy enough to require a back brace."

:noway:

Granted, I should have brought my own if I thought I was going to need it, but are you really going to tell me - a personal trainer - what women SHOULD and SHOULDN'T be doing? Go away.

I looked at him, smiled sweetly, and said, "Well, I'm Wonder Woman, so I do." (Those that know me understand my Wonder Woman fascination - I have WW Converse All-Stars, T-shirts, keychains, socks, hats, even undies - all Wonder Woman!)

rsharper97

Good for you for not letting that comment get to you.

iWaffle

"Well, I'm Wonder Woman, so I do." (Those that know me understand my Wonder Woman fascination - I have WW Converse All-Stars, T-shirts, keychains, socks, hats, even undies - all Wonder Woman!)

Time to go to the gym.

determined_erin

Oh yeah, I can't stand gender stereotypes and sexism. Society has a long way to go.

for2day

Good for you! My husband used to lift weights and he has always told me, that anytime I would like to, he would help me out, so I do it right. AND - Wonder Woman ) I always wanted to be her growing up. I still think Lynda Carter is a beautiful woman!!

carrieliz81

This person sounds like a real d-bag. Kudos to you for being a true Wonder Woman!!!

triathlete5301

I'm a lifter. I LOVE to lift! Today I decided to use a back brace because I have gone up in weights and my lower back has been bothering me a bit. I don't have one of my own, but I know there are a couple at the gym...so I grabbed one and put it on. WAY TOO BIG!
So, I found another one and tried that one on. WAY TOO BIG!

I chuckled and made some comment that it didn't fit right and was told, "That's because women aren't supposed to be lifting heavy enough to require a back brace."

:noway:

Granted, I should have brought my own if I thought I was going to need it, but are you really going to tell me - a personal trainer - what women SHOULD and SHOULDN'T be doing? Go away.

I looked at him, smiled sweetly, and said, "Well, I'm Wonder Woman, so I do." (Those that know me understand my Wonder Woman fascination - I have WW Converse All-Stars, T-shirts, keychains, socks, hats, even undies - all Wonder Woman!)

Love it! I fear going to do free weights because I am just starting out and I get stared at by all the guys in the gym. Um... Hello? If it's good for you, why can't it be good for me too?

GetSoda

Sorry to hear about that awful discrimination.

Though I would like to point out what you're referring to as a 'back brace' isn't actually a back brace, and you might injure yourself worse if you treat it like one.

but he called it a back brace too? That's sooo weird.

kristy_n0831

There are a few guys at my gym like that and they always cut their eyes and such when I'm using free weights. The co-owner of my gym thought it was absurd that my boyfriend suggested I do deadlifts.

TravisBikes

Could have replied to him and said "Funny, doesn't look like it's slowing you down any.."

hungryhobbit1

Today when I first got to the gym my quads were really acting up and I thought I might skip the weights when I finished up cardio. Then I looked over from my 10 minute cool down on the rowing machine and saw all the women doing mysterious slow things with balls, flopping around on the floor.

Motivational. Went up 10 pounds on the squats today.

clownfear_7

My gym has a pretty good balance. I have not met a lady there that lifts enough to need a brace, but there are many ladies that have a workout intensity that can match that of any of the men and this on its own can be intimidating. And any guy that would make a disparaging remark about them in the free weight section I would challenge to follow their routine, cause they are tough.
Keep it up!
Oh, and God Bless Linda Carter! (Rival to my wife for hottest woman ever).

koing

The guy is an idiot and probably doesn't even squat properly himself.

Koing

redheaddee

He's just hatin' that you lift heavier than him :laugh: I am the only girl on the weight side always! I refer to it as the Boyz Club, but I work it like I own it! I love it when they make comments: my personal fave was "daaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn gurl, I ain't messin' wit'choo!"

ddipert

You naughty girl - threatening that poor man's masculinity :laugh:

thecakelocker

Today when I first got to the gym my quads were really acting up and I thought I might skip the weights when I finished up cardio. Then I looked over from my 10 minute cool down on the rowing machine and saw all the women doing mysterious slow things with balls, flopping around on the floor.

Motivational. Went up 10 pounds on the squats today.

Hahahaha

sawyermark

I just started working out at the Ymca again and there's just as many women that use free weights as the men almost. Plus there's one lady half my size and probably is lift twice what I can. Which makes me wish I hadn't stopped going before.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

Sorry to hear about that awful discrimination.

Though I would like to point out what you're referring to as a 'back brace' isn't actually a back brace, and you might injure yourself worse if you treat it like one.

but he called it a back brace too? That's sooo weird.

Weight belt?

neandermagnon

dunno if it's because I'm British and British people use irony in a different way to the USA... but what he said could be taken as a combination of a compliment and him commiserating with you about the lack of foresight of the gym to include back braces that would fit women. I guess that depends on the tone of voice and facial expression of the one who said it... and I wasn't there so can't judge on that.

kind of like when someone looks out of the window and sees rain and says "the weatherman said it would be a nice day today" - it doesn't mean he thinks it's actually a nice day.

wolverine66

stupid men...


sheesh.



wait. what?

deemartin2

bump

HeidiMightyRawr

I'm assuming you mean a belt? Never heard it called a back brace before.

Anyway, good for you! People like that get on my nerves!

GetSoda

Sorry to hear about that awful discrimination.

Though I would like to point out what you're referring to as a 'back brace' isn't actually a back brace, and you might injure yourself worse if you treat it like one.

but he called it a back brace too? That's sooo weird.

Weight belt?

Pretty sure that's what she means. Unless it's something else entirely I haven't seen before. For two people to call it a back brace - that's pretty unusual.

squirrelzzrule22

Wow....it would be one thing if he said women don't "usually" lift heavy enough for them to justify buying one or something.....but to say they aren't SUPPOSED TO?!? From a trainer???? That is ridiculous. What an *kitten*.

I work out at my law school's gym and I"m always the only chick in the weights area. I'm not even lifting very heavy right now (haven't gotten into a great program) but I still like to go through an arm routine with dumbbells and the looks I get....you would think I was wearing neon light up underwear or something. Used to make me self conscious but now I"m just like eff this....I'm 24 years old not a kid I don't give a crap.

Keep it up, Wonder Woman!

meshashesha2012

life is too short for me to get up in arms about what some meathead in the gym says. people are welcome to their stereotypes.
at least now you know to never hire this trainer.

excellent come back though

billsica

I know what you mean. I tried to find this belt in the store, but it only came in womens sizes. I'm so mad that men can't get properly fitting belts. :sad:

Ibarra951

There are a few guys at my gym like that and they always cut their eyes and such when I'm using free weights. The co-owner of my gym thought it was absurd that my boyfriend suggested I do deadlifts.

Why would a co-owner of a gym think it's absurd to do compound movements? What, does he think females have to restrict themselves to accessory lifting only?

Not to be a pervo or anything, but i've seen some outstanding female physique's in the gym's i've been to and they are almost always doing compound movements. Squats, Deadlifts, Pull-Ups, etc.

I think compound movements are awesome and there's nothing wrong with a female doing dead-lifts. Just my opinion I guess.

n3ver3nder

but he called it a back brace too? That's sooo weird.

Really? You're surprised at the lack of knowledge of an over payed babysitter - because that's what most PT's are, they require an abysmally small amount of knowledge to achieve the certification to work in a chain gym. The function of most PT's is to encourage you to keep coming back, so they can sell memberships, not to actually get your results.


That aside, the most important issue here is that the OP does not know how to correctly use a weight belt. A weight belt is NOT a back support, and using it like one can lead to injury. Just sticking it on and cinching it up, convincing yourself that this automatically makes you safer can lead to over-reaching and thus injury.

The CORRECT way to use a belt is as something to brace your ab muscles against, to increase intra-abdominal pressure. This only works if you are using the valsalva technique when lifting.

Learn more here;

http://articles.elitefts.com/training-articles/benefits-and-proper-use-of-weightlifting-belts/

Here's a decent video too;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg4CaFFZqiU

ItsCasey

I agree that it can get annoying when men (and women) assume that you don't know what you're doing, but to me, this is really a minor annoyance. My dad and my brother used to think I was "lifting too much" until they tried to do some of the lifts I do. Once they realized how strong I am and reconciled that with the fact that I don't look like some 'roided out she-man, they changed their tune. Some people just need a chance to realize that their mindset is wrong.

On a side note, I find that guys who are truly passionate about lifting don't tend to have that attitude toward female lifters. They are typically very excited to see a strong, dedicated woman on the "man" side of the gym, and many of them will go out of their way to help you when/if you need it.

clairabellle

Touché .

bagge72

Sounds like he was just making a joke to me.