To think this is unfair?

[Whenlifegivesyouoranges]

I joined a gym a few months ago and one of the main points for me was that it’s female only from 9-7 weekdays. I’ve just had this email from them and I’ll be cancelling as it no longer fits in with the times I can go, but this is ridiculous, right??

I can't see what the email said.

Sorry- the image is under review. It basically says the gym is reserved every weekday evening from 4-7pm for women who are 12-24 years old. As a 36 year old, I wouldn’t be able to use it at those times!

A business is a business, OP.

That’s absolutely ridiculous! Why women of a certain age!? I’d feel furious OP.

Yes, I understand that but I’m paying the same amount as someone who is 18 but can now use the gym for an extra 15 hours a week compared to me? Because they happen to be younger?

Exactly my point! Why does age matter?

So a woman over 24 can’t go to the gym straight after work any more? They’ll lose business, surely.

That is weird. Why the age limit?

Can you post the photo?

I’d like the idea of women only time ( if I went to the gym haha) I’m sure it’s popular but genuinely the age thing is madness. Have you emailed to clarify?! I’m sure many women will also be cancelling. Is it every night or just certain weekday evenings ?

That really makes no sense at all. Especially as that’s a prime slot of time.

I’ve copied and pasted the email as it is whilst the image is under review:

Dear Members,

We hope this message finds you well.

We are writing to inform you of an upcoming change to our Ladies Gym sessions. Starting from Monday 30th June 2025, the gym will be reserved exclusively for females aged 12 to 24 years during the following times:

🕓 Monday to Friday, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

This update has been made in response to feedback and to better cater to our younger female members who require a dedicated, comfortable space during peak after-school and early evening hours.

Please note that outside of these hours, our Ladies Gym will continue to be available for all female members as usual.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to improve the experience for all our members. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

WTF?

They would need a proportionate reason to do this - eg women between those (rather random) ages being less inclined to use the gym - and to connect that somehow to the presence of older women! Age is a protected characteristic

WTF. Why do younger women need a special session away from older women?

That’s wild 😂 once a week, fine. One hour a day (outside of peak times), fine. Three hours every weekday is mental. I’d cancel too.

That’s a strange age range too - 12-18 I would get, so it’s a space for high school kids, or even up to 21 including uni students. I wonder why they chose 24.

Not ridiculous at all - teenage girls collectively are a group highly at risk of stopping exercising. There's a purpose in providing a space just for them, just as there is a purpose in women only gym sessions in the first place. If the gym managers think there's a workable business case for making it work good luck to them. If it doesn't then they'll go bust.

That’s ridiculous they’re surely going to lose lots of business. Imagine you’ve just turned 25 and youre too old now for the gym - how stupid

I dont think you can discriminate against older people like that, Id be very surprised if that was legal. Its not the same as providing a single sex service which obviously has very clear legal reasons - older women arent known for sexually attacking younger women 😂 And regardless its changing terms under which you joined, so they need to refund you any joining fees and let you leave if they plan to continue with the discrimination.

24 year olds are not teenagers

What problem are they solving with this!!?? This is so weird

That is absolutely bonkers. Why on earth do younger women need a dedicated space for working out?

So 9-4 it’s all women, 4-7 it’s just women 12-24, and outside of that it’s everyone?

this seems rather bizarre, especially into the summer hols when the young women will be on vacation anyway! Am really racking my brains to see what could be driving this?

Surely they can't specify age in this way?
Either way I'd be cancelling my membership and making very clear why.