60% of women regularly have to correct gym goers
New research from Strength Ambassadors sheds light on the struggles women in the fitness industry face after surveying over 100 active female weight lifters.
The survey shows there is still a lack of understanding when it comes to the impact weight training can have on the female body as well as judgement from fellow gym goers that women need advice/guidance.
The Key Findings
50% of women voted “you’ll become bulky & unattractive” as the most annoying weight lifting myth.
Over 60% of respondents have had to dispel a lifting myth whilst in the gym.
The top 3 reasons women find these myths so annoying are because they are untrue (43%), it’s sexist (36%) and “it’s off putting (8%)
The main reason women lift weights is to get stronger (57%), followed by “build muscle” (15%)
Over 60% of respondents have had to dispel a lifting myth whilst in the gym.
Some of the personal experiences shared included “Heavy lifting will make a woman infertile”, a PE teacher telling a class their “uterus will fall out if you do full pushups” and that lifting is “unhealthy/dangerous for women if they want to have children”.
Here are two of stand out comments our respondents received whilst working out:
“Women shouldn’t do flat bench press because we’ll lose breast tissue. I was told this by an actual PT.”
“Recently in a HIIT class, I was dissuaded against shrugs as “traps aren’t a good look on a girl“
50% of women voted “you’ll become bulky & unattractive” as the most annoying weight lifting myth.
Over half of the women surveyed encountered a comment on their appearance, suggesting that the omnipresent battle women face being defined outside of a pre-established level of attractiveness still exists in a place designed to promote health and wellbeing.
Quote From Sally Moss
“Over the past decade of being a strength coach focused on women's weight training, I've witnessed the extraordinary growth of women participating in weight training and wanting to train for strength.
This is incredibly positive as there are so many health benefits from weight training, including being stronger in everyday life, improved fitness, and greater confidence in your abilities.
However, I was still hearing stories from women at Strength Ambassadors, about what is said to them in the typical weight room.
It's particularly frustrating when it comes from PTs and gym instructors, who should know better!
Nevertheless, it shows that women are growing in knowledge and confidence around weight training. They feel better able to deal with this kind of comment, even though it makes them uncomfortable or annoyed.