Women-Only Gyms Are A Great Idea: Change My Mind

I saw this topic come up on Twitter early one morning and it's been something heavy on my mind ever since.

We have come a long way in terms of equality among the sexes and genders; however, there is still a long way to go.

The fact of the matter is, women still do not feel safe in America and men are a big part of that.

We know it is not all men, however, far too many before us have made the mistake of assuming they are in the company of "one of the good ones." I still walk around with pepper spray on my keys, I have an alarm I keep in my purse and, ladies, we all know how to use our keys to turn us into "Wolverine" when we walk alone at night.

As I have been hitting the gym lately, I have only had a couple instances where a man made me uncomfortable but I've definitely heard more "horror" stories than I can count.

Just last week I avoided a glute machine because I saw a guy on a different nearby machine watching in the mirror as my friend used it and, in my mind, I go to the gym to better myself, not get my ass checked out by some creep who only picked that machine for the view...

The most common excuse I hear from men when it comes to making women uncomfortable at the gym is the clothing the ladies wear. Here's the thing, though, women's athletic wear is made the way it is to be functionable. There is a reason it is tight and while it is figure-flattering, that only adds to the confidence the gym provides.

Without going on too long of a rant, just know I fully support the idea of a gym designated for women and I really don't understand why that would be such an issue.

Men in the comments on Twitter were going on and on about "segregation", how it "proves feminism is about being better than men" or how it's just so unfair but what they fail to realize is that really just about women wanting to be comfortable at the gym and use it as a space to uplift other women...Men have and have had those kinds of spaces for centuries.

I understand it might not feel "fair" or maybe it just is kind of a slap in the face that women do not feel safe around you without you even realizing it. Many men out there were raised to respect, protect and just not be "that way" to women and we applaud you.

However, if women wanting their own space to work out offends you, it may be a good opportunity for you to really look within at what that really means. If you are offended, chances are you might be either directly or however indirectly part of the problem at hand.

All in all, if there was a women-only gym I would sign up for that in a heartbeat and I feel like I am not the only one.

If you're not comfortable working out around other people no matter their sex, here's a few apps that can help you get fit from the comforts of home: