Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Women only gym. Am I being a killjoy?

112 replies

SapphosRock · 17/03/2021 13:14

There’s a female only gym and cafe opening not far from me. The idea is so that women can train without fear of being harassed by men. So far so good. Sounded promising, I was tempted to join.

www.theargus.co.uk/news/19157289.mama-fit-female-only-gym-cafe-opens-burgess-hill/

On further investigation I actually think it sounds pretty awful for three main reasons:

1.	The owners are men. Not sure I feel about two blokes profiting from the discomfort and intimidation of women. Additionally, surely they will be present in the gym at times defeating the object of it being female only? 

2.	The name is shit. Women are much more than just Mamas.

3.	They haven’t thought through their membership criteria or PR. Some women asked some completely legitimate questions on social media about their policy on including trans women. These women were basically told to shut up and go away.

In my opinion these men don’t have a clue about what women actually want from a female only gym.

Prepared to accept this is just be me being a grouch and they are approaching this with the best of intentions. Thoughts?

Women only gym. Am I being a killjoy?
OP posts:
CardinalLolzy · 18/03/2021 08:45

I would assume from the name it's a specialist in post-natal sort of exercises. Shit name otherwise.

Of course it's not sexist to use Equality Act exceptions to allow people of one sex safety and dignity. Additionally, women's bodies are different from male ones - we aren't just weaker penis-less men. It would be great to use a gym that focuses on this.

Would be an amazing opportunity for women with religious restrictions around being with men, too.
But obviously there is no point in segregating by gender, only sex.

PandoraP · 18/03/2021 08:36

I loved my gym when it had a women’s only corner. Just much more relaxed.

GNCQ · 18/03/2021 08:29

Can't believe posters on this thread are saying same sex gyms are "sexist" !
Women can have all sorts of reasons to need same sex gyms. The fact your bum and tits are bouncing around like nobodies business should be an obvious reason.

merrymouse · 18/03/2021 08:17

Personally for me the fact that two men run it would put me off if I was looking for a women's only gym, seems a bit weird!

Yes, it does see seem to be a strange business proposition.

Juliesipadwillcallyouback · 18/03/2021 08:10

Heavy weights don't make women bulky, cupcakes do

Slight aside, but why is it always 'cupcakes' when people want to make comments about women's eating habits?

Babyiskickingmyribs · 18/03/2021 08:02

@JohannaC I disagree with you ´women don’t need specialized training’ idea. Nothing to do woth ´bulking up’ or cupcakes. It shouldn’t be considered specialized because women make up half the population but post-partum training really does need to take into account probable weakness in the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor. But then I live somewhere where pelvic floor physiotherapy is standard state funded healthcare after having a baby. This might be temporary concern or it might continue for life or get worse with menopause. There must be a very high percentage of women in the population who have had one or more children -maybe half? Maybe 30-40%? That’s a big chunk of the total population.

JohannaC · 18/03/2021 04:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

EdgeOfACoin · 18/03/2021 04:23

@JohannaC

Sorry, that did sound a bit blunt, but if I had a pound for every woman I've heard say they won't lift weights because it'll make them bulky....
Yes, but gym instructors correct this misapprehension. Even at your common, high street gym.
JohannaC · 18/03/2021 03:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Graciebobcat · 18/03/2021 03:50

Heavy weights don't make women bulky, cupcakes do

Yes, because only women eat cake, silly fat girls sitting around eating cake Hmm. FFS.

JohannaC · 18/03/2021 03:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Ozgirl75 · 18/03/2021 03:39

Well it’s not a compulsory gym for women. I like my women’s gym but people are all different. I assume market economics will decide whether this particular gym is successful or not.

JohannaC · 18/03/2021 03:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

user127819 · 18/03/2021 02:56

Do men often have problems losing weight gained during pregnancy?

But it's not a gym for postpartum mothers. It's a gym for women. Women who don't, won't, can't have children. Women who have had children and just want to get some exercise.

Ozgirl75 · 18/03/2021 00:08

I go to a women’s only gym here in Sydney. I love it. I’ve never actually had comments in a mixed gym but what I love about it is:

  1. The women are a friendly mix of students, mums, older ladies and lesbians.
  2. The workouts are specifically aimed at women
  3. No sweaty men hogging the fucking machines while they scroll on their phones
  4. No showing off and ridiculous grunting
  5. Way more weights in the range of 5-25kg

We did used to have one trainer who was trans but this was before the trans movement so they just didn’t go in the changing rooms and got on with their life there and we were all polite and didn’t mention it.

ScoobyCat · 17/03/2021 23:17

They’ve missed the mark completely on this one haven’t they.

If a gym is supposed to be for women only then it absolutely needs to be single sex, otherwise what is the point of calling it a women only gym?

PotholeHellhole · 17/03/2021 22:40

You're misusing pronouns, Skyliner. Isn't that a hate-crime?

Skyliner001 · 17/03/2021 22:38

Fab response from Mama fit, well done them for calling you out 😊

Soontobe60 · 17/03/2021 21:54

@MaMaLa321

I’m assuming that you also think single sex prisons, refuges, hospital wards are also retrogressive ghettos? no. If you bothered to RTFT you would know that I specifically said I didn't
Your posts are in direct contradiction to each other. The first talks about single sex ghettos. And yet you don’t include other single sex spaces in your definition. If a female wants to have their privacy considered in a prison, why not a gym where there may be females showering? Feminism is for all females, strong and weak, most importantly for weak females who will need support
UnderHisAye · 17/03/2021 21:16

@MissBarbary are all women overweight post partum mothers?

Deliriumoftheendless · 17/03/2021 21:06

My ex did.

MissBarbary · 17/03/2021 20:43

@UnderHisAye

The name is giving me the boak. Would they call a males-only gym Dada Fit?
Do men often have problems losing weight gained during pregnancy?
elizabethdraper · 17/03/2021 20:34

Oh meant to say my husband's mens only strength gym is called dadfit

MaMaLa321 · 17/03/2021 18:52

I’m assuming that you also think single sex prisons, refuges, hospital wards are also retrogressive ghettos?
no. If you bothered to RTFT you would know that I specifically said I didn't

Justhadathought · 17/03/2021 18:44

I used to go to a women only gym, and really enjoyed that. In fact I might start going again if another was available.

I see young male fitness trainers out and about with groups of young mothers ( their infants in prams and pushchairs) where I live, and this seems quite popular. Perhaps these guys realise there is a demand for women only services, or for services specifically tailored to women and mothers?

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.