Would You Only Join a Gym That Has a Female ONLY Section? Why?

I’ve been pretty annoyed for the last month about the current situation at the gym I go to. It’s been open for about 2 years and they had a fairly substantial sized “ladies only” area. I popped my head in there for a look when I joined and spotted the usual amount of treadmills, exercise bikes, machines and free weights but I have never used it. It would have felt weird and segregated and I just didn’t see the point.

Anyway, I didn’t really take much notice of how many women actually used it until all hell broke out when construction crews moved in and started smashing mirrors on walls, moving equipment and taking down the existing walls – to make it much, much bigger. This gym is super popular and can get really busy, especially in the evenings. You have to be fast if you want to secure a bench to do some free weights and even faster to grab the dumb bells that you want as there’s only 2 in each weight category. And now we have lost a lot of this space that was already at a premium.

Like myself, there are LOADS of women who use the gym in its’ entirety and I have never, ever, ever seen a male stare inappropriately (despite the fact there are some women in there in the shortest, tightest outfits outside of a beach). Nor have I heard a disparaging comment to a single person there. By and large, apart from a distinct lack of deodorant from some people, the crowd is polite and respectful of other’s space and dignity. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure everyone checks out everyone else. I know I do. There’s not much else to do except look around in between weight sets and I look at people’s cute outfits wondering where I can get those shoes, how much they’re lifting, how much tone they have or haven’t achieved. I’m human after all and I’m pretty sure the guys are sneaking peeks at the short shorts too but like staring at the sun, a quick glance and then look away is all that’s required. And, if you’re going to turn up dressed in itsy bitsy items of clothing well you’re likely fairly confident in the first place and have to expect the guys are going to want to look. There’s plenty of loose clothing options available to work out in, just sayin’…

Anyhow, last night the gym posted on-line an update saying they were nearly ready to re-open the women’s section and I scrolled through the comments to see dozens and dozens from female members saying oh thank goodness, haven’t been to the gym in weeks, can’t wait to get back in there etc. Which prompted me to wonder: Why do women feel the need for a female only area? There’s female only gyms already in existence like Fernwood Fitness if you’re literally that shy that you can’t do a few squats and lunges in range of a man’s eyesight?

I know we don’t always look our most attractive when our hair is plastered to our heads and we’re red-faced and sweating but that just goes to show you’re putting in your A-game. And personally I probably work harder and push myself more in mixed company than I would behind a wall with just women but maybe that’s just me.

Imagine for one second, if you would, the holy hell that would reign down if gyms had men’s only areas…Is this fair?