By Natasha Vianna, SSH Correspondent
A few years ago, I signed up for a gym membership for the first time in my life. It was exciting! I am a mom so getting back to working out, losing the baby weight, and feeling good was all an amazing concept. And that’s all it ever was, a concept. By the end of my first gym visit, I hated the gym because of the men.
Day one at the gym included some cardio, some zumba, and some weights. What I didn’t realize is that my membership not only granted me access to the gym and childcare center, but it also included creepy stares from lurky men and free, new unwanted nicknames from the desperate.
My first day was horrifying. As I was on the treadmill, I felt so uncomfortable as I watched two guys walk behind me to just stand there and stare at my ass. And when I walked to the water fountain, someone strategically met me there at the same time to watch me bend over for a sip.
I never felt so uncomfortable in my life. The experience and the staring were in no way flattering to me. In fact, when I went home, all I could do was look for workout clothes that weren’t clingy. At one point, I even asked myself if I was dressing too sexy for the gym.
One evening, the scariest perk of my co-ed gym membership surfaced. A man from the gym followed me to my car at night. As I carried my 3 year-old daughter, he walked only a few steps behind us and I didn’t notice him until I was already opening my car door. Nervously, I locked her inside and asked him what he wanted. He insisted I give him my phone number and when I said no, he told me that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Not even a moment later, someone from the gym walked outside and startled him. I smiled and waved them over. He looked back at me and told me he would try again tomorrow. I never went back to the gym again.
So today, when I was talking to a male friend, I told him I couldn’t go to co-ed gyms anymore. He asked me why and I told him the story. His first few comments included: “Why would you go to a gym filled with guys?” and, “What were you wearing?”
I pulled out his male privilege card and reminded him that I was a woman and he was a man. Never in his life would he be asked those questions if a woman harassed him. Never in his life would he be asked if he was wearing clothes that were too tight after complaining about someone following him to his car. Yet, here I stand constantly talking about the types of harassment I endured and the first thing some people ask is how I evoked or provoked my mistreatment.
Women should be able to wear anything anywhere without worrying about a man’s ability to control himself. Women should be able to go to a co-ed gym and work out peacefully. Gyms should have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and should be concerned about the safety and well-being of their members. Some co-ed gyms have implemented designated areas of the gym for women with the machines women are more likely to use. While this seems like a solution, it’s a joke. The machines are usually shitty and only 1/10 of what is offered in the gym.
How awesome would it be to see a sign on every wall reminding members that sexual harassment is not tolerated? Or if a portion of every single person’s contract included a sexual harassment clause?
Have you ever been harassed at the gym? Share your story.
Natasha Vianna, a fearless activist and young feminist, is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Boston, MA. Follow her on twitter!
