Clothing in the gym

I have been going to the gym for years and I can honestly say no one has ever put their bum in my face

It's the scrunch shorts designed to specifically scrunch up into your arse crack. Ain't no one telling me that's for comfort or for any reason other than for others gaze. After all unless you are a contortionist you can't see inside your own arse crack.

Oh stop it. Its biology. God forbid we decide biology is banned. If women walk around half naked, men are going to notice. Decent men will do their darndest to not look but that ends up making the whole experience stressful. And I'm a woman. Just not a man hating one.

I'm not sure a heterosexual man finding females attractive is the definition of perversion

I often wear bright patterned leggings to the gym. I don't do it to be intimidating; I just like bright colour and prints. Why does that intimidate you?

I'd certainly be far more concerned about wiping down the equipment if those took off.

Admittedly I haven't read every post but on my skim read I haven't seen any proposal for nudist gyms. I don't think I'd be relying on my local's thin paper towel and anti-bac if that were the case...

We're not talking about nudity everywhere and anywhere, we are talking about gym clothing that you don't like. If you have to start criticising something completely different, that's pretty much an admission that you've no case against this.

So nudity ? Anywhere and everywhere is that also ok? Guess so?

Having said that, I don't particularly enjoy seeing....

Doesn't matter. You liking it isn't a prerequisite for someone else's clothing choices (and if you can't bear sweat on the equipment, the clothing should be the least of your worries in a gym. Save it for people who don't wipe it down afterwards.).

I've seen people in skimpy clothing in the gym but I've never seen anyone who "may as well be naked", just as I've never seen anyone placing their arse crack into anyone's face and all the other wild sexual fantasies we've had on here from people who are above all that.

If someone is dressed or acting in a way that is so obscene they shouldn't be in public, tell the staff; if it's really that explicit and offensive then I'm sure they'll agree to eject them. If you just don't find their clothing pleasing, then look at the screen and get over it.

Well as a female I feel uncomfortable about some of the very revealing clothes that are worn so I can quite understand a bloke feeling that way - I really don't want to see your bum crack

I mean it's not just whatever you are comfortable in or like best is it? There is a fashion element

We have laws / norms against nudity in public places but the latest fashions are pushing the boundaries of those laws and I don't think it's really for the benefit of women

It's the men who don't avert thier gaze that you should be wary of

What a disgusting pervert. Men are such vile creatures.

Women shouldn't have to dress 'modestly' so that men don't feel uncomfortable. I doubt it would help anyway, a man is perfectly capable of fantasising about a woman in jeans, jumper and thick winter coat so it's not like there's a specific minimum amount of clothing that will save us from the 'male gaze'. Having said that, I don't particularly enjoy seeing near naked people sweating all over the gym equipment, or clothing that is so tight or skimpy that they may as well be naked; I wouldn't appreciate a man wearing shorts that showed every curve of his genitals or a shirt that showed the outline of his nipples, and I don't want to see that on a woman either. It just seems inconsiderate and attention seeking, with decent quality fabrics a vest top and leggings is cooler than wearing nothing.

But you are entitled to your opinion about what clothing is and isn’t acceptable. You don’t however get to tell me what I can and can’t wear.

Id be really disappointed if my partner had sexual thoughts about a woman that is quite obviously being controlled, coerced and abused. She might be scantily clad, but I’d question the sanity of anybody who viewed her sad demeanour as something that triggered a “naughty thoughty” (let me just go vomit at that particular turn of phrase)

I dunno. I'm attracted to both men and women and haven't ever found myself feeling like going to the gym is akin to a soft porn visual bonanza.

I'm a member of three gyms, go regularly and see an awful lot of the sports bras/crop top and shorts combo. Am I more likely to notice an attractive woman when she's wearing that? Yes, absolutely. Does that mean I feel uncomfortable,or might think or respond in a way that is disrespectful to her or my partner? Absolutely not.

I'm sure plenty of women judging this lot like to dress in a way that accentuates their own figures, but just a different style - and it wasnt so long ago that basic lycra leggings and a crop top were scandalous. So as long as it meets the building's dress code is functional for working out and they don't hog a bench for hours on end I don't see why it matters.

The gym is a place where people get hot, and need to see their body clearly in order to check their form. Tight and brief clothing is not unexpected. You might not like bum scrunch leggings (I hope you don't, they're fucking hideous) but they are not a public obscenity and the gym is probably the best place for them.

I think "so... what" is that being dressed in an overly sexual way is not appropriate in the street or in the gym etc...
I would also say expressing political options with clothing may also not always be appropriate to the situation.

No, I realise I took this out of the gym context and to an extreme.

Thank God. After the rubbish coming from some quarters, I can't be sure that everyone does realise what they're saying. Still, if it's out of context and extreme - in other words, if it's not actually happening - why is it relevant?

It's just that some people, men and women, do dress to be looked at in a sexual way.

Of course they do. They're adults and they can dress how they like. Some people dress to express political opinions that are offensive to some, some people have lots of piercings and tattoos in order to look distinctive. You're allowed to dislike it but at the end of the day, the only person responsible for your response to it is you. They like to be seen sexually...so what? You don't have to if you don't want to.

I'll explain.

Some people go to the gym at a regular time and meet people they know, maybe chat while they're working out, or get a coffee afterwards. i.e. it's a social as well as physical pursuit for them.

If you are moving around the machines then you may notice other people.

If your workout includes rest periods then you may notice other people.

If your machine doesn't require you to check your form e.g. cooling down on the bike, you may notice other people.

There are many, many threads on MN were people ask things about gym kit beyond just feeling comfortable. It might not be how you live, and that is fine, but surely it can't be that baffling to understand how people notice what other people are wearing.

No, I realise I took this out of the gym context and to an extreme. It's just that some people, men and women, do dress to be looked at in a sexual way. And that probably does happen in gyms.
I do old lady yoga so no, no naked genitals. Might spice it up a bit though...

Women are showing their naked genitals in public at your gym?

What about Bianca Censori (I know she's not in the gym...) walking about with her fanny out? Is that OK? Personally I don't want to see it, I don't want my DP or kids seeing it.
However, if Bianca Censori walked past, mingbob wafting in the wind, we would ALL look. And yes, I would imagine my DP might have a slightly naughty thoughty.

When you’re in the gym it can be important to see your body to ensure you’re doing things correctly. Also work out outfits wick sweat away.

if he can control himself to stare at people that’s a him problem.

If you think this makes anything you've said look better, maybe you really can't tell the difference between a woman wearing silly leggings and a woman shoving her bum in your face. Or between a long term abuse tactic designed to make a person question their sanity and an opposing statement on the internet.

That's quite some world to live in. Maybe that's why you love life!