Gender issues in the gym can be divisive or isolating, especially if your discipline is predominantly male or female. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. How can men and women work together in the gym, and are there any lessons we can learn from each other?
This One’s For the Butch Girls (Becca Borawski)
I’ve only been to one Pilates class in my life. I’ve also only been referred to as “butch” one time in my life. Well, one time to my face. What if gyms were free of such alienating judgements?
4 Things Men and Women Can Teach Each Other in the Gym (Eric C. Stevens)
Men and women might seem alien to each other in regards to their gym behavior, but really we’re just on opposite ends of a continuum and could learn some good lessons from each other.
Confessions Of A Glamor Girl: On the Danger of Stereotypes in Fitness (Nick Horton)
Dressing like a glamor girl nearly got me put in jail when I was younger, but even as a more mellow adult I still run into stereotypes and prejudice…even in the fitness world.
My Name is Valerie, and I Might Be Sexist (But I’m Working On It) (Valerie Worthington)
As a woman in a male-dominated sport, I have experienced sexism of every stripe. Sadly, I’ve also handed it out. Here are 3 things I’ve learned and admitted about grappling, gender, and myself.
Are Women’s Only Gyms Discriminatory? (Nicole Crawford)
Let’s assume for a minute that not all women’s gyms promote pink 2-lb dumbbells. Could they have benefits for members, or are they discriminatory and old-fashioned?
From the Experts: How to Attract and Retain Women in BJJ (Valerie Worthington)
I recently discovered that not much has been written on how to get women into BJJ, so I did some research and talked to women I know who practice the art. Here’s what they had to share on the topic.
Women and Group Exercise: Theories From a Male Instructor (Eric C. Stevens)
I have never understood why group exercise is dominated by women participants. I have a few theories on why this is, in regards to dancing, ability to listen, and community.
Gender and Jiu Jitsu: Helping Men Understand Newbie Women (Valerie Worthington)
If you’re a man, imagine how your perspective on the world might differ if you were concerned for your physical safety pretty much all the time – and how it might affect your orientation to jiu jitsu.
