Gender Trouble at the Gym - or how to be a woman

Aug
2008

Gender Trouble at the Gym - or how to be a woman

The other day I was filled with nostalgic pangs of longing for our old women’s only gym in the UK. I can in fact pinpoint the start of this feeling to one specific incident. The pangs started just about the time a pompous looking man decided to do the ultimate in space invasion and step right behind my partner as she was working out on a back pressing machine, causing her to stop and twist suddenly, something her neck muscles are still feeling a few days later. Now, here’s the stark difference in the approach of these two individuals. My partner injured herself rather than injuring another person. The pompous looking man injured my partner by deciding that he was just going to walk straight into the trajectory of her movement. Being a man he was that sure a woman would yield to him. Is this indicative of the differences between men and women, or is it just something we women have been taught? (Anyone else remember being told to keep out of the way and quiet down like a good little girl, while the boys went right on running around yelling?)

The reason pompous man was in such a hurry to invade my partner’s personal space was that he wanted to change the weight he was lifting without having to go round to the other side, which is where you normally do it for obvious reasons. The second time he did it I decided enough was enough and said; “excuse me, would you mind stepping round the other side so that my partner doesn’t continue to pull her neck muscles?” Still polite, I think? He ignored me, as he was of course very busy.
I tried; “Oi!” in a loud voice. He looked the other way. Still busy. So I resorted to something that usually gets most people’s attention even about a mile away. The shrill whistle. Very unladylike. That did the trick. He looked at me and I repeated my request. He nodded. Still pompous, but I don’t expect to get it all my way. Then he shuffled off busily to the other side.

When we left, I happened to glance at his weights. 15kg. He easily weighed about 85kg himself and that’s me being kind. My partner had been back-pressing 20kg and she only weighs 48kg herself. I weigh 65kg and just leg-pressed 70kg.

I have no mathematical sense (whistling is my only talent), but even I felt there could be some sort of favourable comparison here. I put this to my partner who can out math pretty much anyone (certainly most pompous men).

“Yes,” she said without pausing for breath, “that’s 18% of his body weight, 42% of mine and 100% of yours, plus technically 8% more than your own bodyweight but mathematically 108% is not very eloquent.” I focussed on the first part of the sentence.

I don’t mean to get caught up on petty details here, but that’s not much to be pompous about, is it?

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5 Responses to Gender Trouble at the Gym - or how to be a woman

See, you had me until the kg (us stupid Americans — ok at least THIS stupid American can’t do metric! LOL) and then when you started with the percentages I’m pretty sure my brain exploded out the back of my head. LOL

HOWEVER — I feel ya — I hate being the “good little girl” while the boys out there run amuck.

Tina-cious.coms last blog post..Night cap: Vol. 1

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by Tina-cious.com on August 1st, 2008 at 10:12 am

oops, should have thought of the metric thing. Guess I was trying to say that although we’re smaller, we can be stronger (and less pompous) - kind of like ants (don’t know how pompous they are, actually).

However, thanks for the female solidarity : ) Much appreciated.

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by orlando on August 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Ah the gym…let’s see what have I been called by the “boys”.

An animal…
A gorilla…

The moron that called me a gorilla was hitting on me and when ignored came up with “how much are you lifting - you’re a gorilla”!

Do you really think a girl gym is any better though…the girls in my weight training group used to call me GI Joe and tease me about watching America’s Top Model. Apparently I wasn’t supposed to watch that show I was to watch world softball or something…
janet

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by name janet on August 2nd, 2008 at 7:27 am

I’m at the gym 4-5 days/week…and what I’ve learned is that you have to be serious, and look serious if you don’t want to get crap. I put on a baseball hat down a little over my eyes, my lifting gloves, my ipod, and I don’t talk to anyone. It’s my sanctuary to work out the days stress. If anyone, man or woman is lingering in a space I want to use, I ask them to move - if they’re in the way, I tell them….I’m assertive and you have to be. I’m a small thing, but I’ve got definition, and a nice little 4-pack, and I suppose I look more serious than I used to…

Truth is, women are rarely taken seriously in the weight room, and I’ve found at women’s gyms, their weight room is really lacking. They usually have tons of cardio, and crappy equipment. I would never go to a women-only gym. They also tend to have silly rules like “you must have your shirt on at all times,” and personally, I like taking mine off and being in my sports bra for certain things to see what I’m working.

My advice (take it for what it’s worth), is to go to a gym where you see women who seriously train. There is a woman at my gym who is over 50 and has a body like Arnold. She’s awesome. Nobody messes with her…and it sets a precedent not to mess with others. If you see a gym where the women wear their little “gym outfits,” and are just making eyes at the guys (or each other), go somewhere else.

I go to a private gym now, but in the past I’ve had good luck with Gold’s Gym. It was mostly strippers and weight lifters, but everyone there was dedicated to what they were doing…and it was inspiring.

Juls last blog post..Joan Jett has great (fantastic) fans.

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by Jul on August 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 pm