Women Only Classes
Do you think women only classes are a good thing or a bad thing? In response to seeing the kind of training I like, a guy recently posted a comment on here saying ‘if you like that, you should come try out my women’s class where we do a lot of the same stuff.’ I appreciate the sentiment and always appreciate offers to train but it kind of got my nose out of joint. My first thought was ‘oorrrr, I could just train in the regular class, with guys there.’
Though I’m sure he probably didn’t mean it in that way at all, I’m sure for some trainers, there is an automatic assumption that women will be more comfortable training with other women. We’ll be more likely to find someone of a similar height/weight/strength in a women’s class if partner work is required and we’ll feel less self-conscious (if you’re the type to give a crap about being self-conscious when you work out, which personally, I am not).
Now, don’t get me wrong, when I first got into fitness, I dove in the deep end and went to a real down and dirty boxing gym. Walking in, I was petrified. It was very intimidating and uber male. But I’d only been in there a couple of minutes and felt completely comfortable. It was all about the training and what I loved most was that I was treated as an equal. I wasn’t treated differently because I’m a girl, exercises weren’t modified for me, we all trained at the same level. It felt good to be on a level playing field and be respected.
I’ve also been in boxing gyms where there’ve been guys who’ve been completely uncomfortable doing drills or sparring with me. Clearly, an unwillingness to hit a woman is hardly a bad trait but there needs to be an understanding that this is a controlled environment and if I didn’t think I could handle it, I wouldn’t be there.
I’ve been in a circuit class where I’ve carried a 6’3″ man twice around the gym, running. I don’t struggle to keep up if men are in the class. If anything, maybe it pushes me a little harder as I don’t want to look like a wimp.
Then I got to thinking – maybe this is all really judgmental on my part. Do I actually not enjoy working out with women as much? Hmm, well, I do, but as long as we’re a good training match. I like to go complete beast mode during a workout. I find there are still a lot of women who go to vanity gyms and like to do their safe workouts, not push themselves too hard, take the easy option. I don’t want to be in a class full of women like that. I want to be pushed. The circuit class I go to is full of women like me, we push each other to go harder. A women’s only class full of those women, I’m totally on board with. A women’s only class full of women who half ass it and don’t want to mess their hair up – I will give it a miss.
However, saying all of that, I fully understand why some women would be more comfortable in women’s only classes. Back when I lived in Canada, I briefly joined a women’s only gym and I must say, it was nice to have access to a weights area free of beefed up douchebags admiring themselves in the mirror. And perhaps when you first start working out, women’s only classes take the edge off and get you comfortable.
I’m not saying we should axe them, I understand their purpose, I guess I just object to the assumption that that’s what I prefer. The connotation is that the women’s class will be easier and that I shouldn’t be hanging out with the big boys. Maybe we just need to show them how badass women can really be.
Where do you stand?
I don’t think women only classes are condescending at all; if you don’t want to go to a women only class then don’t go, but it’s nice to have them available for those who do. You encourage women to exercise and not give a crap about how they look, but for a lot of women that is a big ask and it is nice to hve women only classes available because let’s face it, who hasn’t heard a group of guys, gym goers or otherwise, comment on an overweight or unattractive woman? Women only classes or gym sessions are great to help build up confidence in women who are perhaps getting back into exercise after a long break or who have never exercised at all.
I sometimes get annoyed if I want to go swimming but there’s a ‘men only’ session on and was wondering if we still need these. But when I went to the pool the other day and it happened to be ‘women only’ I realised (despite living in East London) I’d completely neglected to consider people whose religious or cultural background means they can’t swim with the opposite sex. There were a lot of women making use of the session who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to go swimming.
I’m totally on board with women-only training. Although I think if it’s led by a man it totally defies the point! I went to a few sessions of women-only kickboxing but the fact the male trainer was flirting nonstop with a couple of the other women wasn’t exactly fun. I feel really motivated and inspired when the trainer is also a woman, it makes me feel like I *can* achieve what I’m there to do.
Bit of a generalisation about women’s only classes. I’ve seen men in the gym who put in a half arsed effort thinking they’ll get fitter just by paying their membership. It’s about individuals and what they feel is right for them. I’ve attended mixed classes and women’s only classes at my CrossFit box and I like both but I attend the women’s class more frequently. Why? Fewer numbers means more time with the trainer on specific techniques and lifts, training with a group of women that have become friends, training with women who are really competitive and with less of the drama and noises put on by the men when they’re lifting. One of the coaches says he likes coaching us because we just ‘get on with it and work hard’. Plus we do the same workout that the other classes do on the day.
Sounds like the guy was just being nice. Maybe he thought if you came to his ladies class the women would get the ‘badass’ training attitude that you’ve got? We’re all at different levels and we all have different goals for our fitness. For some women maybe the women’s class is the first stage of getting comfortable with themselves and working out.
I stand somewhere in the middle…
I’ve been really frustrated in weights classes before, where it’s just been rows of girls with less than 3kg on their bar, doing half-arsed lunges & not wanting to get sweaty or red faced. I find myself wanting to scream ‘PUT SOME EFFORT IN!’ These aren’t women only classes though, it’s just become that way due to who turns up – they’ve become a class where if someone does come in & pile a load of weight on their bar & grimace through would feel out of place. Sometimes we have guys venturing in, but they’re probably left wondering why we can’t all work out togther too.
That being said, there’s no way I would turn up to a boxing gym (despite the fact that my & my friend have been going to ‘boxercise’ for years & would love to take it up a notch). I would be more inclined to go to a gym of this kind if they did offer women’s only classes, maybe even if it just served an introductory purpose until we felt more comfortable.
The all-women boxing classes I go to now are filled with mostly badass women, so it doesn’t feel patronising in the slightest and I think it gives a lot of women the confidence to go that wouldn’t otherwise. There was a smoking hot boy in (mixed) class the other week and it did make me feel self-conscious and that’s not what I want when I train, I don’t even want that in my mind when I’m training. It’s not about boys, it’s about me! but nature being what it is, my head was turned and it was offputting. The biggest plus for me on having the women’s class is the friendship angle. I’ve made some awesome pals – proper lovely, strong, admirable women – and walking in every week to smiles and hugs has been invaluable in dark times. We are there to train but also encourage each other and look out for each other and that stuff is priceless – who wouldn’t want 20 or so badass likeminded boxing girls as buddies? we rule!
The whole point of creating Girls In Gloves was so that women could really push themselves in an all female environment & feel like they weren’t being oggled at, intimidated by or indeed have to watch a ‘beef cake’ showing off in the mirror. I don’t think ‘women only’ classes are condescending. They serve a purpose. I think they enable women to focus on training – Hard. Where boxing is concerned many women would not feel going to a sweaty boxing gym is an option. On the many experiences I have had to – for the sake of my own development as a boxer – sometimes it is has been hard to get taken seriously, the guys will never be as hard to spar as women because they always pull their shots & in some instances there was far too much sexism for me. Girls In Gloves is just hard boxing training for women. The girls love it because they are pushed way out of their comfort zone. No frills, no spills and definitely no make up
I’ve never attended a women’s only class, so can’t really comment on them from that angle. I can see why they would need to exist though. Some women are self conscious when working out, and that’s not necessarily about vanity. Sometimes its about wanting an environment that is free from testosterone and male ego, not to mention what Laura touched upon with regards to different religious and cultural backgrounds.
From what you have said, there’s nothing to suggest that he wasn’t inviting you to a badass class that just HAPPENED to be for women only, especially as he mentioned that a lot of the same ground is covered. Admittedly, I don’t know if there was more to his comment, but was there anything that suggested that the class would be easier? The class could be full of women going HAM. Hell, I can’t even be too mad at women that DO attend what could be perceived as ‘half arsed’ classes and don’t wanna mess up their hair. At least they’re not on their sofas eh!
To sum up – No, I don’t find them condescending. I hate people making assumptions, but they get made. *shrug* If suggested, I would politely decline and say its not for me, in the same way that what I do is not for everyone either, including some men.
I have a friend who’s as kick-ass in the gym as you – (I often wonder who would win in a gladiators-style match between you two – is that weird?) She complains about men who grunt dramatically over weights lighter than hers and who then look dejected when she out weight-lifts them. She just wants to get on and work out without showing off, which is the whole point, obviously. So just as there are vanity women there are vanity men – and ultimately, I think the issue is vanity gym-goers in general. Male or female, there are those who want to push themselves and those who just want to look like they’re doing it. I don’t mind working out alongside men, but I know a lot of women who are easily intimidated about working out, especially at the gym, and I like that there are women-only options to help them find their confidence. Of course, the assumption that all women feel intimidated alongside men is unfair – and one only has to be aware of your blog to know that you’re not one of those women!!
I think it comes down to the effort level being put in by other people in the class, and what the instructor expects of you. If it’s like my spinning class where both men and women are dying and sweating on bikes, I’m cool. I would never take a women-only spin class because, er, why do you need that?
I don’t want to be around anyone who is half-assing it or complaining, male or female. The only time I ever get intimidated at the gym is when I want to use weights, and I have to be near the men who are GRRRRRUUUUUUUGGGGHHHHing or standing around chatting about protein drinks and eyeing up women instead of working out.
I think if gyms and instructors get rid of that OMGBEEFCAKE culture and women made more of an effort to to learn about equipment or fitness in general, we wouldn’t need as many women-only classes. Having a safe/friendly environment is great, but fitness isn’t about being comfortable. Gyms can make classes and their venues more female friendly without needing to make things women-only.
My first impression of the women only gym orientation I attended was not good. It looked like a day spa and the speaker system was “blasting” Sarah McLachlan. Not what I was looking for in terms of workout motivation. However, I decided to do a trial membership because the location was closer to my office than the gym I used at the time and the fee included 12 sessions with a personal trainer. I’m so glad I took the chance. There’s no shortage of bad-ass-ness among the clientele. I would say they are just as motivated as anyone (man or woman) at a co-ed gym – maybe even more so. Sure there are some who slack or pose but I think you find those types at any gym. The most popular classes at my gym are for combat and free weights; the latter so much so that management has had to implement a sign-up policy. I think, as a few other here have suggested, that the lack of men allows women to be less self-conscious and focus more on their fitness goals. And it’s great to see women who would otherwise be restricted by culture/religion given the opportunity to participate. It still looks like a day spa but on those occasions when I take classes at a nearby co-ed locale, I have to admit, I miss the relative cleanliness.