In the past 12 months, searches for ‘women-only gyms’ have increased 69%. The gym should be a safe place for all, without fear of intimidation, sexual harassment or embarrassment. So why are people desperately looking for women’s gyms?

To find out, we surveyed over 1,000 gym-goers of all genders about their experiences in the gym to create the ‘Gym-timidation Report’.

The results reveal how many women have felt uncomfortable in the gym. The report also details the most common types of harassment for women, transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid people; as well as what methods are used to avoid feeling uncomfortable, the things men can do to make people feel safer in the gym and more.

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6 in 10 women have felt harassed in the gym by a man

Respondents could give multiple answers, to highlight all the types of harassment they have experienced.

Even for regular gym-goers, working out at the gym can be tough to bear.

Over 61% of women admitted to having felt harassed at least once in the gym by a man. At the gym, women want to simply exercise and relax, so unwanted advances, flirting and sexual or patronising comments make for a highly uncomfortable experience.

For working out to be the positive experience it should be, many must overcome “gym-timidation”. The results of the Origym survey reveal widespread sexual harassment in the gym, with women citing encounters of men making a pass at them, inappropriate comments and sexual remarks as some of the most common gym harassment.

In reviewing the responses, it appears that sexual harassment is not just categorised as physical threat. While physical actions are still highly prevalent, verbal intimidation is also a common theme and these make women feel just as uncomfortable as physical intimidation.

Frequent physical harassment experiences:

  • Standing too close
  • Brushing against people
  • Following around the gym

Common uncomfortable verbal experiences:

  • Laughing at someone
  • Sexual comments about appearance or gym kit
  • Flirting

It’s clear from this, that unwanted behaviour – whether the intention is compassionate or complimentary – isn’t justifiable if it’s perceived as harassment by women.

2 in 5 women have avoided exercising at the gym because men make them feel uncomfortable

The report establishes that ‘gym-timidation’ is a very real concern for women, with many taking necessary precautions to avoid putting themselves in uncomfortable and inappropriate situations.

Women having to shun the gym or change their behaviour should never be the answer.

However, 2 in 5 women have made the decision to avoid the gym altogether because men have made them feel uncomfortable there. It’s a stark reality that women could end up getting less exercise due to avoidable gym intimidation.

Women feel the need to adapt how they behave following negative encounters, with nearly half wanting a friend or partner to work out with them because men make them feel uncomfortable.

Similarly, for those that do still exercise in the gym, there are certain areas they avoid due to feeling uncomfortable.

Women, transgender, non-binary and gender-fluid people admitted to avoiding the resistance area the most in the gym. In stark contrast, 39% of men typically use the resistance area.

28% of women gym-goers who mostly avoid the resistance area cite the reason as ‘it’s mostly men in there’ and 18% admitted to men making them feel uncomfortable there.

Crossing the divide into the male dominated spaces appears to be highly intimidating, and some feel comfortable in different areas of the gym.

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What could men do in the gym that would make women feel uncomfortable

We asked what men could do in the gym that would make them feel uncomfortable. If you’re a man and do these, you’re at risk of making women, non-binary, transgender and gender fluid people feel uncomfortable.

The following were the most popular answers to ‘What, if anything, could a man do in the gym that would make you feel uncomfortable?’:

1 Pass comment on someone’s body
2 Stare at someone
3 Touch someone for reasons other than you helping out
4 Won’t take no for an answer when someone says they don’t want help
5 Laugh or make fun of someone
6 Brush against someone
7 Flirt with someone
8 Comment on someone’s performance in the gym
9 Stand close to someone
10 Touch someone whilst helping with something
11 Pass comment on someone’s gym kit
12 Make comments that someone else shouldn’t be in that area
13 Linger around the equipment someone is on
14 Have their phone out so someone is worried pictures are being taken of them
15 Whisper to other gym members

Making someone feel uncomfortable isn’t always as obvious as inappropriate touching – it could look like any of these things above. It could be appearing like you’re taking unsolicited pictures, staring, lingering around equipment, not taking no for an answer, whispering and much more.

If you’re ready to enter the fitness industry, you can learn more about the best-paid jobs in fitness.

Be an ally: what men can do to make people feel safer in the gym

Despite 2 in 5 women feeling they need to avoid the gym so they aren’t made to feel uncomfortable by men, it’s not women’s responsibility to change their behaviour. Therefore, we asked women, transgender, non-binary and gender fluid people what men can do to make them feel safer in the gym.

When men are in the gym, it’s impossible to tell the intentions of their actions. What may seem friendly, sociable or non-threatening to an innocent man, could feel very different to women, or transgender, non-binary and gender fluid people.

Men who attend the gym can follow these pointers and support others when it comes to making them feel safe.

With around 1 in 10 women admitting to men harassing them with sexual comments about their appearance or gym kit, following the second suggestion on this list could make a huge difference. Women feel intimidated even with positive comments about their appearance, whether a man intends to be complimentary or not.

Men can play a vital role in preventing gym-timidation

Men can play a huge part in intervening and preventing the discomforting situations from happening in the first place.

By following what women, transgender, non-binary and gender fluid say makes them feel safer, men can help to significantly reduce or remove gym intimidation altogether. By ensuring the circumstances that cause discomfort don’t occur, men are respecting that it isn’t all down to women to change or avoid the environment making them feel unsafe.


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1 in 3 women want a women’s gym so they can feel safer

With ‘women’s-only gyms’ searches increasing 69%, this report reveals further evidence that women’s gyms are needed more now than ever before.

Of the women asked, 31% said they would see a benefit to women’s-only gyms so that women can feel safer and more comfortable. Similarly, 38% of women would see benefit to at least a women’s-only section of the gym.

While this isn’t necessarily a new phenomenon, women’s gyms have been receiving a lot of attention on TikTok recently, with the hashtag #WomensOnlyGym at 21 million views, and counting.

It’s no surprise that a significant number of women want to work out where only women are allowed after a huge influx of women sharing their experiences of sexual harassment in the gym.

First-hand experiences caught on TikTok

Personal trainer Heidi Aragon was recently featured across the UK press for her response to gym harassment. Heidi caught an older man repeatedly staring at her as she worked out, and was forced to call her husband over and stand next to her in a bid to block him (highlighting further why nearly half of women want to go to the gym with their partner). She ended up confronting him and exposing him on Tik Tok:

@fit_with_heidi Don’t sit there and tell me you’re not doing something when I have proof. ???? #gymtok #fittok #influencer #viral #trending #tiktok #fitness #gym #gymgirl #fyp #fypシ #foryou #foryoupage #gymcreeps

Watch the Tik Tok here

Chelsie Gleason’s experience was also recently reported in the press, with her Tik Tok documented gym harassment leading to many female gym-goers calling for a safe space for women. The video of the man who she’d never met but had been harassing her for months has racked up more than 47 million views and many praised how she dealt with the situation.

@_chesslee_

being a female is fun(:

Watch the Tik Tok here

This 17-year-old girl shared her experience on TikTok when she had to stop working out and was left shaking after a man followed and stared at her during her whole workout:

@nataleebfitness this girl is 17. @lilyflorencefitness #fyp #foryou #gymharassment #womensonlygym #womensgym

Watch the Tik Tok here

Women’s gyms are most wanted in Brighton and ManchesterOver half (53%) of gym-goers in Brighton see a benefit to women’s-only gyms, so that women can feel more comfortable and safer. This is closely followed by 43% of Manchester gym-goers and 41% in Southampton.

Ranking City % Gym-goers who want a women’s-only gym
1 Brighton 53%
2 Manchester 43%
3 Southampton 41%
4 Edinburgh 40%
5 Belfast 36%
6 Nottingham 35%
7 Birmingham 32%
8 London 29%
9 Liverpool 29%
10 Cardiff 28%

Women are 7 times more likely to specify they want a female PT, than a male PT

While 50% of men and 55% women don’t mind what gender their personal trainer is, others have a preference for the gender of their PT.

Just 4% of women would specify that they want a male personal trainer, compared to 29% who would only want a female one. We’re seeing a huge surge in female personal trainers, providing more opportunity than previously for those wanting a woman personal trainer to feel more comfortable.

For women who specify they’d want a female personal trainer, we asked them to explain why, these are just a few of the responses:

  • “Would feel more comfortable”
  • “Some feel safer”
  • “More comfortable with another female”
  • “Less threatening”
  • “Less self conscious”
  • “I’m scared of male violence”
  • “I would feel more comfortable and less judged”
  • “I feel the most comfortable in gym settings around other women”
  • “I don’t want men ogling me”
  • “Feel much safer and relatable”
  • “Feel less intimidated and embarrassed”

Another 2021 study from Origym found that in the last five years, the UK has seen a 17% increase in women becoming qualified as personal trainers. The results showed a year-on-year increase in the number of female students enrolling into personal training courses, with the ratio gap of men to women consistently minimising.

The study provides evidence to suggest that the fitness industry is becoming more gender inclusive, at least from a professional standard, and by the current trend is forecasted to see an equal split between genders within the next few years.

If you are a woman interested in contributing to the change, or simply someone with a passion for changing the lives of others, then contact OriGym Centre of Excellence to enquire about our diploma in personal training

Fancy learning more about becoming a Personal Trainer?  Book a call with one of our career advisors on 0800 002 9599, who will take you through the options and answer any questions you have or download our free course prospectus to find a course that best suits you.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,013 gym-goers using Censuswide, to find out their experiences and opinions in the gym. The sample included women, men, transgender, non-binary and gender fluid people (and an ‘other’ option to specify a different gender not listed). They ranged between 16 and 55+ from across the UK.

We used SEOmonitor’s trends tool to show +69% ‘women’s only gym’ searches, when comparing September 2021 vs. September 2020.

Fair use statement 

If you want to share our study, any findings or images from the study, please credit with a link to this page.

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About the Author: Luke Hughes

luke hughes origym authour
Luke is the Co-Founder of OriGym. Holding a first-class degree in Sport and Exercise and an MSc in Sport and Nutrition, he is also qualified as a Level 4 Personal Trainer with various specialist credentials covering the entire spectrum of health, fitness and business. Luke has contributed to a variety of major industry publications, including Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, Metro, Cosmopolitan, The Mirror, The Sun, The Standard and more.

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