This is what is wrong with the fitness industry
Replies
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* also gives up arguing in that case *0
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I take it a lot of you guys skipped Marketing in college.0
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I take it a lot of you guys skipped Marketing in college.
Nursing major, but still managed to grasp the basics.0 -
This kind of thing is prevalent everywhere. It's normally something my SO just gives me a bit of ribbing about. like "ooh look there, there's a purple girls squash racquet you're allowed to use! We both know you can't handle my more masculine green racquet" and we joke about it.
What does get to me, is when a photo like that is posted, and nobody 'gets' what the issue is, and just tells the OP she has her knickers in a knot. That does wind me up, willfully ignoring that there is anything weird about that photo at all.0 -
Mother_Superior has already done a good job indicating the flaws, or at least inconsistencies, in your argument, as articulated.
Could you clarify why choosing the pink one is a de facto negative, sexist statement when choosing the other isn't a de facto statement with undertones based in gender?
I didn't
Except the gray one doesn't say anywhere on it that it's for men. They're both 10 pounds, and one is pink. That's all the picture shows. The only sexism apparent in this picture is one that is created by bored people who have a pathological need to get bent out of shape over nothing at all.
it is heavily implied. us women don't like nasty dark metals when we can have pretty pink things (again, social conditioning). if you can't see sexism in that picture, you probably also think feminism is a dirty word.
for what its worth, i would go for the metal ones because i don't like pink. but its the attitude behind the marketing that i have an issue with.
LOL Well fellow person, pleas feel free to buy the metal ones, boldy making your point and holding your ever vigilant head high the whole time, while the rest of the world callously doesn't notice because they're too busy giving a damn about things that matter. And if you disagree with me then you probably hate all men. (See, I can make ridiculous assertions about people who disagree with me without knowing anything about them as well.)
So... choosing metal over pink is me making a statement against the world? I'm not allowed to choose the apparently 'neutral' ones?
It's not. Should be able to choose whatever colour you like. Male or female. I said from the start that my issue is with the attitude behind the marketing0 -
Aaagh! It's an alien alien in disguise. The disproportionate length of the arms proves it!0
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Believe it or not, there are actually some women out there who don't want to pump up, or even have visible musculature...and that's okay. You can still be fit, conditioned, in-shape, toned, et al, without getting ripped.
It has to do with personal preference -- and also diet to a large degree and genetics to some degree -- whether a woman has muscles that "show."
And no, there's nothing wrong with that.0 -
There is nothing wrong with the fitness industry. It's doing what it's supposed to... making billions of dollars. The problem is with those who spend their money there.
my sentiments exactly
Yes...thank you. I echo your echo.0 -
Mother_Superior has already done a good job indicating the flaws, or at least inconsistencies, in your argument, as articulated.
let me summarise it for you, then.
- I dislike 'for women' style marketing, where you slap pink paint on something and hike up the price (and often drop the quality).
- I dislike the fitness attitudes we as women are constantly bombarded with (ie, the idea that you can't lift more than 10lbs without turning into a man, you have to do specific exercises to 'tone up' instead of gaining muscle, etc)
- I dislike it when an obvious example of both of these issues is brought to attention and that person is then ridiculed.
this does NOT mean any of the following
- that I think women aren't allowed to like pink because its omg sexist
- that when I purchase a non-pink item, I expect everyone to applaud my actions
- that I judge anyone negatively for using pink 2lb dumbbells
hope that clears it up.0 -
Sadly, it isn't just the fitness industry. If you pay attention to advertising, you will see the gender difference everywhere! IMHO, the worse offenders are food/cooking (besides beer), fitness, cleaning products, and kids toys/clothes.
My favourite is the Dove body wash
For women: with 1/4 moisturizing cream.
For men: with 1/4 moisturizing technology.
And why do all household item adverts have to make men look like morons and women smug, patronising know-it-alls?0 -
Mother_Superior has already done a good job indicating the flaws, or at least inconsistencies, in your argument, as articulated.
let me summarise it for you, then.
- I dislike 'for women' style marketing, where you slap pink paint on something and hike up the price (and often drop the quality).
- I dislike the fitness attitudes we as women are constantly bombarded with (ie, the idea that you can't lift more than 10lbs without turning into a man, you have to do specific exercises to 'tone up' instead of gaining muscle, etc)
- I dislike it when an obvious example of both of these issues is brought to attention and that person is then ridiculed.
this does NOT mean any of the following
- that I think women aren't allowed to like pink because its omg sexist
- that when I purchase a non-pink item, I expect everyone to applaud my actions
- that I judge anyone negatively for using pink 2lb dumbbells
hope that clears it up.
Well said! :drinker:0 -
What's wrong with the fitness industry? Gyms with annual memberships and forceful sales reps. The con with many gyms is that if you sign up for a year they give you 'a month entirely free'. This is complete nonsense. Given you are obliged to pay for a year, your 'free month' works out as about 3% discount each month over the year and you have to go to the gym a lot to get your money's worth, especially given that you can buy some of your own equipment for a lot cheaper and use it indefinitely.
Treadmills are by and large, a complete waste of time, although of course this is at people's own discretion whether to buy one. They dont work as well as running down the street and are a bulky piece of equipment. Over-rated.
Protein shakes are also horrendously expensive. Are they really worth it? I have been using weights for about 6 months and considered buying them until I found out it would cost about £40 ($60) per month to keep up. A crazy price not worth considering. I would rather just go slower. They are not obligatory to muscle development.0 -
Feminists don't have anything against pink as a general rule, nor do they want a gender neutral society. :happy: They want a society where people are free to be as they choose and marketers don't shove the idea down my daughters throat that in order to be ok, she has to be pretty and sweet and soft and want to dress like a princess...or force a boy to feel that unless he's built like the hulk and squashes his feelings he's not manly. It's cool that your son digs toy cars and trucks, it just so happens that my daughter does too. As a feminist, I'm totally cool with that. I'm also totally cool with it if he decided he wanted an easy bake oven and to decorate cakes like the guy on "Cake Boss." Or maybe he could do both? No skin off my nose either way. My daughter likes trucks, and tools and blocks...and her miniature kitchen apron and oven mitts. So, no worries. While you are not a feminist, it doesn't sound like you and I are actually all that different in our views towards gender and child rearing.IDk.
If they made an entire line of pink kettle balls that went heavy (and I was into kettle balls) I'd probably buy them because I like the color pink.
I agree I like pink...I would buy pink plates for lifting, I want pink gloves with orange lacy bits and pink and orange shoes...
so what it's pink.
ETA I don't want to live in a gender neutral society ...I am not a feminist either, I am just a woman who likes pink, I like purple and blue too..and when I had my son...he never wore pink as a baby..if he wants to now fine...he preferred trucks to dolls didn't have much to do with me.
( I hope this didn't sound like I was attacking you. My intent was more to defend feminism and point out that the average feminists agenda really isn't terribly radical.)
No I didn't feel attacked...I was the 8th woman in my country in the military trade named Artillery for regular force army....yes 8th...back in the early 90s...
I made that statement because there seems to be a tonne of back lash over Pink kettle balls..I mean really...pink kettleballs who cares what color you are lifting
then you have this sort of thingI just can't believe nobody gives a damn about this. It is essentially saying that men's absolute minimum is women's absolute maximum. It's infuriating! The problem isn't the colour, its the mentality behind the entire thing.
Except the gray one doesn't say anywhere on it that it's for men. They're both 10 pounds, and one is pink. That's all the picture shows. The only sexism apparent in this picture is one that is created by bored people who have a pathological need to get bent out of shape over nothing at all.
it is heavily implied. us women don't like nasty dark metals when we can have pretty pink things (again, social conditioning). if you can't see sexism in that picture, you probably also think feminism is a dirty word.
for what its worth, i would go for the metal ones because i don't like pink. but its the attitude behind the marketing that i have an issue with.
It is dogma like this that makes me not define myself as a "feminist" and look at it as a "dirty word", I don't need to get all bent out of shape over trivial little things like the color of a weigh when there are much larger issues at hand...
I as a woman don't see sexism based on color I see it based on things that have a bigger social impact...and statements above make women who like "pink" less than woman who don't...we aren't as good as because we "bow" to social convention...we succumb and are not "smart" to get past these "evil marketers"...
I like Pink because it is girly and is distinctive in the gym with full on dark metals etc.0 -
How do you know she has no muscle? Some people have LEAN muscles as opposed to bulky ones. It's not like she's lifting 200 kg or something.
As for the people who say women can't grow bulky muscles...heh, so not true. After cycling uphill for a month, my calves became huge.
(EDIT:not saying there is something wrong with women who have or aspire to get bulky muscles...just to make that clear)
Also, there is nothing wrong with the length of her arms. You people must have really stubby ones. Since she's a model she is probably on the taller side anyway.0 -
I wish women grew muscles as easy as men. Testosterone injections maybe?0
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That model doesn't look human.0
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It would, could you prove any of those attitudes were at play when the pink kettle bell (that apparently started you on this path in the thread) was conceived by a marketing department. So far, your proof has been your own emotional response to it, which is unlikely to carry much weight for any who didn't already come in to the discussion with your same preconceived notions on what pink meant.Mother_Superior has already done a good job indicating the flaws, or at least inconsistencies, in your argument, as articulated.
let me summarise it for you, then.
- I dislike 'for women' style marketing, where you slap pink paint on something and hike up the price (and often drop the quality).
- I dislike the fitness attitudes we as women are constantly bombarded with (ie, the idea that you can't lift more than 10lbs without turning into a man, you have to do specific exercises to 'tone up' instead of gaining muscle, etc)
- I dislike it when an obvious example of both of these issues is brought to attention and that person is then ridiculed.
this does NOT mean any of the following
- that I think women aren't allowed to like pink because its omg sexist
- that when I purchase a non-pink item, I expect everyone to applaud my actions
- that I judge anyone negatively for using pink 2lb dumbbells
hope that clears it up.
Does your objection extend to every item that's sold with a particular color scheme that could theoretically be said to trend toward a particular gender's typically socialized choices? The above summary would appear to indicate it does. If it does, why does it bother you that things are sold in different colors? If it doesn't, where, precisely, is the line, and how was it established without sexism as a factor?
Incidentally, I don't have any proof that the marketing department didn't choose pink based on the things you're strenuously objecting to when conceiving that kettle bell, because proving a negative is a famously difficult task.0 -
it is heavily implied. us women don't like nasty dark metals when we can have pretty pink things (again, social conditioning). if you can't see sexism in that picture, you probably also think feminism is a dirty word.
for what its worth, i would go for the metal ones because i don't like pink. but its the attitude behind the marketing that i have an issue with.
I have not been 'socially conditioned' to like pink. I like the color.
I also have no issues with "nasty dark metals" however if I was in a gym and they had an array of weights that were the "dark nasty color" and an array of weights -- same amount of pounds as the "dark nasty colored" ones -- that were pink I'd probably gravitate towards the pink ones. Not because "society" has dictated that's what I should do but again, because I like the color pink.
I also want a pink revolver and hell if I could get a pink shotgun throw that in there too. Not because it's 'cute' or 'feminine' but again, I like the color pink.
And FWIW: I think you're reading way, way, way too much into that picture.0 -
Pink (not pastel, though) looks fantastic against my complexion and hair color. So I wear it quite a bit, but it's far from my favorite color in general.it is heavily implied. us women don't like nasty dark metals when we can have pretty pink things (again, social conditioning). if you can't see sexism in that picture, you probably also think feminism is a dirty word.
for what its worth, i would go for the metal ones because i don't like pink. but its the attitude behind the marketing that i have an issue with.
I have not been 'socially conditioned' to like pink. I like the color.
I also have no issues with "nasty dark metals" however if I was in a gym and they had an array of weights that were the "dark nasty color" and an array of weights -- same amount of pounds as the "dark nasty colored" ones -- that were pink I'd probably gravitate towards the pink ones. Not because "society" has dictated that's what I should do but again, because I like the color pink.
I also want a pink revolver and hell if I could get a pink shotgun throw that in there too. Not because it's 'cute' or 'feminine' but again, I like the color pink.
And FWIW: I think you're reading way, way, way too much into that picture.
Green also looks really good on me, so I wear a lot of green. And red. And grey.
I've never been a pink lover, though I don't hate it. My best friend, who I've known since we were babies and our mothers are best friends, on the other hand, is obsessed with pink. We basically grew up as siblings with almost the exact same background.
ETA: My daughter hates pink. Won't wear it or buy anything that is that color.0 -
Lol...I can't believe this went on pretty much all day. If I had the space and money I would totally buy a color coordinated Kbell set. Not only does it look nice but you can easily distinguish the weights. As for whether 10 lbs is too light, that's a matter for each person to decide. Personally I can deadlift and squat significantly more weight than I can use for arm exercises. Does that mean that I just shouldn't do arm exercises? On the contrary, it means I should work hard on them with whatever weights I can lift and whether they be pink with glitter and feathers or made of solid skull crushing metal is totally irrelevant. Personal preference.0
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I think a man could just as easily take offense at that photo. "Why is the 'mens' bell not big and bulky, too? Why is it not aesthetically pleasing with nice colors and edges?"
Except for it's not a men's bell and a women's bell there. It's just two bells in two styles. One has a woman on the tag, one has a woman on the box (I assume the arms woman is used to market the bell she's holding in the pic). I imagine they're also both marketed to men since neither is labeled with a gender recommendation.
So in a way the people assuming the pink bell is the woman's bell are the ones stereotyping women.0 -
We share the housework fairly equally...though I probably do a little more. However beause of the commercials she sees, my 5 year old is always asking me and only me if I'd like a new vacuum, Lysol, mop, etc, etc...
*This was in response to someone saying that house cleaning commercials are VERY gendered.0 -
This is what's wrong with all advertising. There's a lot of criticism for the way toys are marketed as well.
I just intend to buy my daughter toys that will be fun for her. I always wanted an erector set, but never got one, because it was a "boy toy." Same went for Transformers, model cars, and chemistry sets. Hrmmph! However, I adored my Barbies and Barbie playsets, too. So, yeah, she'll have/she has "pink and blue" toys and can be a "pirate princess," if she wants to be. :happy:0 -
I agree to a point. Remember the housing crash? Weren't the banks and lenders doing "what they were supposed to do...........make billions of dollars" with deceptive tactics?There is nothing wrong with the fitness industry. It's doing what it's supposed to... making billions of dollars. The problem is with those who spend their money there.
While I believe individuals should be responsible for actions, some actions took were because they were deceived.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
Those kettlebells look like they'd really be good for toning
LOL0 -
We share the housework fairly equally...though I probably do a little more. However beause of the commercials she sees, my 5 year old is always asking me and only me if I'd like a new vacuum, Lysol, mop, etc, etc...
*This was in response to someone saying that house cleaning commercials are VERY gendered.
Interesting, I do all the cleaning, laundry and cooking in my house and the kids picked up on the commercials as meaning their mother wasn't doing her job.0 -
I blame the advertising industry more than the fitness industry.
At it's core, the fitness industry does want people to get fit and train more, so they end up need more expensive specialized equipment, accessories, supplements, etc.
The advertising industry just wants to make money. It doesn't care if you stay fat or not. They just have to stage things so that it looks appealing to the end consumer, whether or not it's an accurate representation of the product.0 -
Lots of what the fitness industry spouts is BS. If you've watched it like I have, there are cycles of different approaches that gain popularity only to die out, then get revamped into a new "exercise" program. Aerobics were very popular in the 80's, then came step in the late 80's early 90's. The 90's were a mixture of Taebo, bootcamp, kickboxing, etc. And now one of the most common is "functional" training which was initially used for rehabilitation yet was morphed into the fitness industry.I blame the advertising industry more than the fitness industry.
At it's core, the fitness industry does want people to get fit and train more, so they end up need more expensive specialized equipment, accessories, supplements, etc.
The advertising industry just wants to make money. It doesn't care if you stay fat or not. They just have to stage things so that it looks appealing to the end consumer, whether or not it's an accurate representation of the product.
While there have been strides in the actual science, there is still a lot of broscience being touted by fitness trainers out there who really have no understanding about physiology or nutrition. But they say it because it's makes them money.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
At least the FTC is getting involved more and ridiculous marketing claims like ones for Skechers Shape Ups and some supplements are being shot down in the form of the companies having to pay back some money to consumers. Though I wonder if the millions they have to pay is significant compared to the added sales they get from the false advertising claims.
I agree to a point. Remember the housing crash? Weren't the banks and lenders doing "what they were supposed to do...........make billions of dollars" with deceptive tactics?There is nothing wrong with the fitness industry. It's doing what it's supposed to... making billions of dollars. The problem is with those who spend their money there.
While I believe individuals should be responsible for actions, some actions took were because they were deceived.
I wish the FTC would make them pay for TV commercials that have them admit they made false claims. I still see those shoes on the store shelves. I guess you can sell them, you just can't say they'll 'tone you'. I've boycotted Reebok since they jumped on that bandwagon, too.0 -
Companies get away will millions versus what they actually pay out in law suits. Most end users don't even bother with claiming any money even if it's publicly announced that the company is being sued.
At least the FTC is getting involved more and ridiculous marketing claims like ones for Skechers Shape Ups and some supplements are being shot down in the form of the companies having to pay back some money to consumers. Though I wonder if the millions they have to pay is significant compared to the added sales they get from the false advertising claims.
I agree to a point. Remember the housing crash? Weren't the banks and lenders doing "what they were supposed to do...........make billions of dollars" with deceptive tactics?There is nothing wrong with the fitness industry. It's doing what it's supposed to... making billions of dollars. The problem is with those who spend their money there.
While I believe individuals should be responsible for actions, some actions took were because they were deceived.
I wish the FTC would make them pay for TV commercials that have them admit they made false claims. I still see those shoes on the store shelves. I guess you can sell them, you just can't say they'll 'tone you'. I've boycotted Reebok since they jumped on that bandwagon, too.
Far worse though is the diet industry. Especially with books because the first amendment protects free speech and any author can convey whatever diet program they want to and there will be followers who buy into it. Remember Kevin Trudeau?
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0
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