Page 2 | This has wound me up. Aibu? (Gym class men/women)

FredAstairesChair · 2021-07-02T08:15:06+00:00

I'm looking for a new adult acro/gymnastics club to join. Why the need for this? It's put me off. For what It's worth I weight train and do aerial sports and have had men 'destack' machines after I've been on, but this isn't really the point. I'm worried it will be a sort of sexist vibe or I won't be permitted to learn things I may want to learn because I'm a woman (although written down this seems ridiculous). Aibu?

Grellbunt · 02/07/2021 09:38

@ChainJane

YANBU because there shouldn't be divisions in sport based on gender at all. There shouldn't be "men's" and "women's" competitions, it should just be one big contest where anyone who is good enough can enter. The best should prevail and the average should just do it on an amateur basis.

The argument that some sports are suited to men, others to women, is offensive. The argument that a woman can't beat a man in a sport is also offensive. Look at Fallon Sherrock, took on a man and beat him at the World Championships. And I reckon Nicola Adams could take down plenty of men in the boxing ring too.

I REALLY hope this is sarcasm.

Flippyflops2021 · 02/07/2021 09:42

The whole de-stacking thing.. generally with weight training you warm up with some lighter sets (I’m a qualified instructor) … so just because people ‘destack’ after you doesn’t mean you’re stronger than them.
Also they could be doing lighter weight higher rep sets than you.

One of my DD does gymnastics and always wants to try the rings etc. But it’s just how it is in gymnastics as people above have said.

Original poster

FredAstairesChair · 02/07/2021 09:44

[quote Grellbunt]@FredAstairesChair

Sorry I hadn't seen your reply when I typed my other post.

I may be quite angry and I may be projecting. Sorry! I'm just a bit fed up with a few developments in society around this issue and your post triggered me but it isn't your issue.

Sexism and stereotyping is a massive problem - but there is a difference between genuinely recognising differences and, as you say, putting things off-limits for abitrary reasons. Can be difficult to find the balance.[/quote]
Don't worry I understand. I totally agree about the recognising difference versus sexism ( I won't go into the men competing for women in sports thing that MN seems to hate).

OP posts:

Original poster

FredAstairesChair · 02/07/2021 09:46

@Flippyflops2021

The whole de-stacking thing.. generally with weight training you warm up with some lighter sets (I’m a qualified instructor) … so just because people ‘destack’ after you doesn’t mean you’re stronger than them. Also they could be doing lighter weight higher rep sets than you.

One of my DD does gymnastics and always wants to try the rings etc. But it’s just how it is in gymnastics as people above have said.

I understand,i shouldn't have given that example (me and those men were all powerlifting) as I've said above I was just illustrating how I personally may be more than capable of some things men can do. I may just look for a different gym that doesn't focus on the competition norms, although beginner adult classes are hard to come by it seems.

OP posts:

plinkyplanky · 02/07/2021 09:48

Just echoing a few other commenters (as someone with a lot of prior gymnastics experience!) - this is completely normal in gymnastics, and not at all based on one gym having sexist policies. The events in gymnastics are completely different for men and women, and in my experience this is always how club gymnastics is practiced - even for beginners! Although beginners may spend a lot more time focusing on skills that transfer across all apparatus in any case.

It's not really about getting a chance to "try everything out".

plinkyplanky · 02/07/2021 09:50

Also would totally encourage you to try it, it's very fun! You obviously have the strength, which is a huge advantage. Would love to find an adult class myself!

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 02/07/2021 09:51

@ChainJane

YANBU because there shouldn't be divisions in sport based on gender at all. There shouldn't be "men's" and "women's" competitions, it should just be one big contest where anyone who is good enough can enter. The best should prevail and the average should just do it on an amateur basis.

The argument that some sports are suited to men, others to women, is offensive. The argument that a woman can't beat a man in a sport is also offensive. Look at Fallon Sherrock, took on a man and beat him at the World Championships. And I reckon Nicola Adams could take down plenty of men in the boxing ring too.

@ChainJane

This has to be one of the most unintelligent and naive things I have ever read on Mumsnet.

Please tell me it was a joke?

CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 02/07/2021 09:53

Just go to the class. Why would you not?

Have a go, if you like it and you think you want to try something you can ask!
You don't need to get in your high horse about it

Comefromaway · 02/07/2021 09:57

Where is this gym as it's exactly what my dancer daughter has been looking for? somewhere as an adult she can learn some basic gymnastic moves such as cartwheels etc.

Greenrubber · 02/07/2021 10:01

Perhaps you should give it a go and if you don't like it fine
No point speculating about what they may and may not allow you to do
And when you tell them what you want to get out of the class I'm sure they will encourage it
Sounds like your moaning for no reason and playing the sexism card already it could just be badly worded or it could even be because those are what male and female gymnasts do in the sport I mean I've never seen aale gymnast on the beam but then I don't watch the sport

Beamur · 02/07/2021 10:05

Yup the poster suggesting no sports should be segregated on sex - whilst I too would like to see stereotypes broken down, fails to understand that in some sports there are actually good reasons for having this. It's not sexist to understand there are physiological differences between male and female sexed bodies. Lung capacity, bone density, muscle mass, body fat, etc. Quite a bit of recent research on this too.

BingBongToTheMoon · 02/07/2021 10:12

@ChainJane

YANBU because there shouldn't be divisions in sport based on gender at all. There shouldn't be "men's" and "women's" competitions, it should just be one big contest where anyone who is good enough can enter. The best should prevail and the average should just do it on an amateur basis.

The argument that some sports are suited to men, others to women, is offensive. The argument that a woman can't beat a man in a sport is also offensive. Look at Fallon Sherrock, took on a man and beat him at the World Championships. And I reckon Nicola Adams could take down plenty of men in the boxing ring too.

Oaft! You’re stirring the anti-transgender mumsnet members here. A big old grenade toss….run for cover!

Greenrubber · 02/07/2021 10:17

So that is what the male and female gymnast do in the sport!

This has wound me up. Aibu? (Gym class men/women)

Grellbunt · 02/07/2021 10:17

Indeed... good trolling.

HeartIess · 02/07/2021 10:22

Op just tell then you identify as a man

Job done

Tal45 · 02/07/2021 10:36

@ChainJane

YANBU because there shouldn't be divisions in sport based on gender at all. There shouldn't be "men's" and "women's" competitions, it should just be one big contest where anyone who is good enough can enter. The best should prevail and the average should just do it on an amateur basis.

The argument that some sports are suited to men, others to women, is offensive. The argument that a woman can't beat a man in a sport is also offensive. Look at Fallon Sherrock, took on a man and beat him at the World Championships. And I reckon Nicola Adams could take down plenty of men in the boxing ring too.

What a bizarre argument. Fallon Sherrock plays darts, I can't even think of another sport that is so skill based as oppose to strength based - you only have to look at the men to see that being in tip top health and condition isn't key. So while your argument might work for that one very specific sport it's never going to work in the 100m, or the javelin, or the marathon is it.

Motherissues2020 · 02/07/2021 10:40

I did gymnastics as a child. Those are the usual/standard apparatus.

I'm sure you'd be able to have a go at the male ones. I've been on the high bar plenty of times, we used the parallel bars and mini pommell horses for conditioning exercises. I've given the rings a try too.

To be honest, to be any good at quite a few of the male apparatus you need height and fantastic upper body strength. The rings in particular need it. Lots of younger male gymnasts aren't great at the rings, and medals at competitions frequently go to older male gymnasts who are specialists and have incredible upper body strength.

It's just a reality that although female gymnasts are incredibly fit and strong, that they can't do some of the moves some of the men can.

It's lots of fun though, you should give it a try.

TheOrigRights · 02/07/2021 10:52

OP, I understand you are new to gymnastics, but I'm surprised you have never watched competitive gymnastics on telly or even seen the news when it's Olympic time. Most people know which disciplines men and women do.

Anyway it sounds fun.

claralara42 · 02/07/2021 10:55

@ChainJane

YANBU because there shouldn't be divisions in sport based on gender at all. There shouldn't be "men's" and "women's" competitions, it should just be one big contest where anyone who is good enough can enter. The best should prevail and the average should just do it on an amateur basis.

The argument that some sports are suited to men, others to women, is offensive. The argument that a woman can't beat a man in a sport is also offensive. Look at Fallon Sherrock, took on a man and beat him at the World Championships. And I reckon Nicola Adams could take down plenty of men in the boxing ring too.

Nobody is actually this ill informed and dimwitted, are they?

claralara42 · 02/07/2021 10:56

And they aren't divided on GENDER, but on SEX. You can't even get the basic premise correct.

Original poster

FredAstairesChair · 02/07/2021 11:03

@TheOrigRights

OP, I understand you are new to gymnastics, but I'm surprised you have never watched competitive gymnastics on telly or even seen the news when it's Olympic time. Most people know which disciplines men and women do.

Anyway it sounds fun.

Ive never even owned a TV. I wish I had as I would have loved to have become sporty as a youngster.

OP posts:

Original poster

FredAstairesChair · 02/07/2021 11:08

@Comefromaway

Where is this gym as it's exactly what my dancer daughter has been looking for? somewhere as an adult she can learn some basic gymnastic moves such as cartwheels etc.

I'll pm you It would be a happy coincidence if you're near and she could go.

OP posts:

toooldforgymnastics · 02/07/2021 11:08

I'm an adult (beginner) gymnast and have been to quite a few different clubs adult classes. I have not yet come across one that would stop anyone going on any of the equipment or pieces. In fact, most adult gymnastics competitions allow men and women to compete on whichever peices they want. At my club I go on the rings, pommel and P bars all the time. I can't actually do anything on them mind :)

Original poster

FredAstairesChair · 02/07/2021 11:15

@toooldforgymnastics

I'm an adult (beginner) gymnast and have been to quite a few different clubs adult classes. I have not yet come across one that would stop anyone going on any of the equipment or pieces. In fact, most adult gymnastics competitions allow men and women to compete on whichever peices they want. At my club I go on the rings, pommel and P bars all the time. I can't actually do anything on them mind :)

I haven't either but then I've never seen any with anything like this written on their site. Nice to 'meet' a fellow beginner adult :)

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CharlieWorkCharlieSad · 02/07/2021 11:17

Why don't you go and try it out or find another gym?