Thread by @GappyTales

This article about the relentless nature of sexual harassment of women and girls is interesting for a number of reasons, not least the governments pledge to eradicate it by 2030.

It names parks, universities, bars and public transport as common sites

bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politi…

for harassment to take place, but fails to mention the gym.

As a personal trainer, one completely unofficial part of my job has always been protecting my female clients from harassment in the gym. The most common form is staring.
Men like to stare at women in gym clothes,

particularly (I find) women who are new, possibly struggling to master a certain movement, and are feeling particularly self conscious.

I have learned to spot it quickly and put myself directly in the way. I stand so as to block the gaze that is having an inhibiting effect on

my client. I do it obviously and deliberately in order to send a message to the man responsible, and to let my client know I’ve got her back.

You speak to any woman about why she avoids the gym, and she will generally say she feels self conscious. Dig a bit deeper and she will

always, very apologetically, begin to hint at male behaviour being at the root. The staring, the taking up of too much space, the overblown and unnecessary noises of exertion. It is intimidating.

It especially keeps women out of the weight room where they could be training for power and strength.

And so it makes me particularly angry when people talk about 'low level harassment' not being a big deal. It is. I'm not without a sense of perspective, I am aware there are

worse crimes than staring or making an off colour comment, but the impact these have on women is not to be underestimated. It literally can impact our physical health.

@GirlsGoneSTRONG