The “women only” room at the gym

I was wondering if I could get a woman’s point of view about this:
 
Some gyms feature a private exercise room where women are offered sanctuary from the burdensome prospect of commingling with their fellow gym patrons of the male persuasion.  Why are women given their own room?  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  Fair or unfair?

should of left this subject untouched...

I personally think it's goofy. If a woman is fat and embarrassed to work out in front of men she should make a home gym or join curves.lol

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Jane


I have been a gym where they had the women's room. It was all cardio machines and some ab, arm, leg machines. The men had all the weights. 

curves.  

Jane didn't stay there long cos she wanted to go builds some huge pecs

V,
    You're the Clipart Photoshop GOD!

 

My old gym had a women's only room. It was only good -- never. It was boring, not motivating, isolative, and the DBs never went over 30lbs and there were no BBs. It did have a buttblaster, that I never used, and a great view of the highway.

I work out at home, so I am not familiar, I did however go to an all womens College (It was a very good school, and they gave me a very good scholorship, obviously not for spelling, well ...). So me going there was not because i was in step with wanting to be with just girls, especially since I'm a guys girl.


I have been thinking about gym membership lately, so this is something interesting for me to ponder.

I don't know how I would feel with a womens only room... I know I wouldn't use it, unless it had all the weights and equipment I wanted, and no waiting.

But Solomon let me ask you, how do you or your friends feel when a women is working out in the squat cages, or taking up a bench... Do they give off the get back to your room girly vibe?

Being me, I have gotten that quite a few times, I however know it is as simple as proving yourself, and putting a boyo or two in their place, and instant respect from the gents.

But, I am a weird lady, not every one is as comfortable doing what I just stated.

thehardway

But Solomon let me ask you, how do you or your friends feel when a women is working out in the squat cages, or taking up a bench... Do they give off the get back to your room girly vibe?

Being me, I have gotten that quite a few times, I however know it is as simple as proving yourself, and putting a boyo or two in their place, and instant respect from the gents.

But, I am a weird lady, not every one is as comfortable doing what I just stated.

This is exactly what I was wondering about.  Thanks hardway.
 
What is it about men in a gym that makes women feel uncomfortable interacting with them?  Do they make you feel self-conscious because they can (or think they can) lift more than you?  Do you think they’re ogling you when your back is turned?
 
In regular society, women are expected to put up with such behavior.  In the gym, women are given the option of cloistering themselves in a room full of cardio and tummy/butt isolation machines.  Are guys so much more boorish at the gym that such measures are necessary?

@@@My 100th post@@@

Again, I had to think hard about my answer before posting, and allow myself enough time to write my response, well 'cause it's not cut and dry and I wanted to be fair all around.

it will be long and rammbely

It boils down to these points, in my mind. I am not suggesting that any are right, wrong or otherwise. This is the impression I have of what is "common" for women and men. As always there are exceptions, and total 180s as well.

 Yeah, men are that boorish in the gym, and judgemental too.

I know we had a thread in training about that guy, and what did it turn into, a talk about fake titties, that they can't stop staring at or views of ladies on the "abducter machine".

Your right women have to deal with that every day, in society, but usually not in such compromising positions.

It is usually on their own terms, with the outward appearance they want to portray. Most of us don't look our best, or so many of us think, half way through our routines, men included.

I posted up a video not so long ago here in critique my training. For probably a month I kept thinking, no I really have to get a vid up, I know I am wrong, I do know what is wrong, I believe, but I need some input, even if it is just confirming what I feel is wrong, (this place is my only weightlifting support, center, I work out at home).

 Part of what was holding me back, was not wanting to take the time to look even half respectable, during the videos. Like finding something to lift in that doesn't look horrible, and having my hair in some way other than what I would usually have it, because basically I look like ass when I lift. If you check the video, I obviously decided that I am not going to ever "clean up" for a work out, enough to look good for the camera, and the input is more imortant than how I look that particular Saturday morning, and just took the video.

But, I have gotten to the point where I taking my lifting rather seriously, for a casual weightlifter. The critique is important to my progression.

Now think about this, the fat lady who is walking into the gym for the first time ever. All she knows is she is fat and unappealing. She is confronted by all this apparatus, and torture devices, she knows is supposed to help make her appealing, and fit.

She looks around at all the "pretty people", the meat heads, the barbies, and all of the rest. She knows she is ut of shape, she knows that she is "ugly", and now she has to show just how out of shape she is, in front of EVERYBODY>>>> 

Please don't even suggest that if not you, then people you know will make smart ass remarks about the fatty struggling on the other side of the gym. Or how horrible that old lady looks in her little work out outfit. Because if it's not you it will be somebody.

Transport right back to high school, where people will make fun of you to your face for being an other, and in the gym she is an other. She doesn't know what she is doing, and is half afraid to find out... she just knows it will be aweful. You get the idea.

Men are taught to "man up", there is certainly hazing, and snickering  on the man on man side. But, being men your taught to put up with that, since that is what being a man is all about.

But, the ladies are supposed to always be pretty it is the flip side, and even the cuttist little cubby girl, isn't going to be soo cute, after 25 minutes on an eliptical machine.

The same thing goes for pushing heavy weight, even at our advanced day and age, most women don't think that is for them, it is for the boys. I can't tell you how many women have asked me how to "tone up " their arms, or even better I want arms like yours...  and I tell them, (and we know there is no such thing as 'toning"), their response is oh... I don't want to do that, I can't lift weights, so running won't work?? Well no, you can't get my arms form running. Running can help shed some of your fat, but the best way would be to combine some lifting (you don;t even have to work as hard as I do) with some cardio, and you'll.... and 9 times out of ten they already have a blank stare at this point.


It is hard to try to work on your body when your what you are working out for is mocking you 5 feet away.

And then there is all the testosterone floating around, the grunting, yelling, throwing, puffing up of chests, and general boy silliness. Now, being who I am I get a big kick out of it. Boy none sense can be absolutely hysterical, I am certainly guilty of being just as bad as they are. I have a lot of male friends and always had, I have begun recently free sparring boys, in my kung fu. One of the running jokes on this board was that I am a classy broad, with all the trashy implications. Well I am not trashy, but I'm a guys girl, so I can deal with boyishness.

Some women just can't relate to that, and need to be hidden away, it makes them feel to insecure. If they are left alone they can work on their issues, even with the "barbies", but not with the dudes...

Does that answer your question at all....

I kinda went all over the place.


 

Sometimes I wish we had a women's room...though that wouldn't get you away from the women: "Why are you in the gym? You don't need to lose weight."

This is what I don't say, because I would get kicked out:
"No, I don't, I would like to be stronger. Please leave me alone. And here's some free advice. The girly little dip machines aren't going to get rid of your bingo wings. Nor is wandering along on the treadmill forever. Lift heavy and do actual cardio, or don't be surprised you aren't losing weight, lady."

Or my personal favourite, when I was doing squats with dumbells (only about 1/3 of my body weight, for pity's sake) this elderly chappy wanders up and says, "If you want to tone your thighs, you should use the machines in the other room."

*looks at thighs*

*looks back*

You know, I think I'll stick with these, thanks. "Toning my thighs" is not particularly high on my list of concerns.

How would I have felt if it was my first time there? If I didn't know any better? I might have believed him and scurried off to the nice, safe machines, rather than pushing myself with compound movements. Sheesh.

Sadly, to stop people making stupid comments you would have to work out at home.

I was just reading this thread and thought to myself how the person who sold my gym membership referred to it as when we peered inside.
 
He said, "You'd like this; we have a women's only room, where you don't have to feel pressured."
 
And I thought to myself and then bluntly said "By what?" 
 
As a woman I understand I will not push 2,300 leg presses like Ronnie Coleman even if I was juiced to the gills.  My gender and genetic makeup just won't allow it.
 
But as a bodybuilder; Pressured???  By other fool men grunting and pushing 90lbs squats thinking they're Jay Cutler, like the wanna be muscle heads do at the Spectrum I go to?   No,  I said, "I think I'll play w/the big kids" is what I told him.
 
Women's Room =  Kiddie's Table