Women only gym. Am I being a killjoy?

[SapphosRock]

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?

Mama Gin?

Shame they didn’t go with Mama Gym then their whole business model could’ve been like one of those Only Connect sequence rounds.

Yes to smaller plates for upping the weights btw.

I prefer not to make my feminism about adding extra pressures on women who are often already overburdened. “Be strong, not weak” sounds rather demanding to me. Not to mention not all women wanting single sex spaces for exercise and leisure will be or consider themselves feminists. Anyway I think feminism is about liberation for all women, not only the ones who “deserve it” by being “strong enough”

Bang on.

Trying to ignore the biological differences between females and males is not feminism, in order to truly liberate women from the patriarchy we need to recognise that men and women are different and go forward with the premise that that men and women should be equal despite their differences .

Name is awful. Basic premise of women's only gyms as well as women only swimming sessions is one sadly I think something to support. Just because one does not seem well run does not negate the idea.

Yes, Mama Fit is not a great name for a general 'female only' gym - I have seen 'Mama' fitness type things before, but they are specifically targeting at new mothers who can bring their babies along etc, not just general females.

And I don't know who Jane Jarvis is, but she has written a cracking post on there pointing out that they are potentially breaking the law if they say it is for 'females' but its actually mixed sex, especially as they appear to be refusing the publicly publish the policy on trans women!

Sorry I meant to say, I don't know if Jane Jarvis is on here!

My gym used to offer classes like 'the little black dress' workout or 'bikini fit'. Men weren't banned from the classes, but they certainly didn't go to them! Funnily enough, they were among the hardest workouts I ever did, and I used to go to boot camp and circuit, which were attended by males.

I would assume that Mamafit had an on site creche and workout classes you could do with your baby. It's ridiculous to call a general female-only gym 'mamafit'.

Name sucks.

I go to a female gym.. i love it.if a male workman is coming in it is anniunced.

It is my happy place.

@MaMaLa321

I wouldn't want a women-only gym tbf. Confining myself in a single sex ghetto is retrogressive. If I was bothered by a man (and I never have been) I would complain, loudly. THAT is what Feminism is.

No, feminism is being supportive of all females who may not be as comfortable as you in accessing services such as gyms. Several religions do not allow for males and females to mix in certain situations - feminism would support hose women in accessing such services without it conflicting with their religious beliefs. Feminism is supporting victims of DV, rape, sexual abuse all at the hands of men to access such services without being fearful.

I’m assuming that you also think single sex prisons, refuges, hospital wards are also retrogressive ghettos?

In normal times a male relative frequents a gym owned by a Muslim man in a predominantly Asian area of a major city. The owner had loads of enquiries from local women who wanted something female-only, so when an empty premises came up nearby he bought it and is converting it. If just one male uses this gym it will ruin his business and ruin a facility which has been developed in demand from local women. I'd feel really sorry for the owner.

They have absolutely no idea do they!

Fools.

Mama fit ffs.

Some of you are misunderstanding the Equality Act. The owners of the gym can offer their services to females only, and there is a section in the Equality Act that specifically allows for transwomen to be excluded from women’s services/resources that are single sex.

I think you are missing the point being made. This gym could be single sex under the EA but isn't. It could also be single sex but still offer specific accomodation to certain groups of trans women (for example those who've had SRS or those who have a GRC would seem like defensible places to draw the line).

What it can't do is just exclude some men solely on the basis of their belief that they are men.

@HypnoRuler

Seems sexist to exclude men from a premises. The same way it would be sexist for men to exclude women from a gym, golf course, etx.

Haha, women are often excluded from those places. Try again!

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?

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

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

@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?

My ex did.

@MissBarbary are all women overweight post partum mothers?

@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

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

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

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?

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.

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.