The debate about women's-only gyms

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: PROVIDED BY ANDFIT
Andfit, a female-only gym and boutique studio has different classes available for all levels of fitness.

It’s around that time of year again where people are frantically joining gyms to keep up with their New Year’s resolutions. For some people, not too much thought goes into which gym to join. Some women on the other hand have concerns about coed gyms that female-only gyms address.

Andfit is a local female-only boutique gym. Founder Andrea Merucci Hsiung, says that her studio is her passion project.

“I really wanted to expand and really take my own stance on fitness. I really wanted to take my passion. I also have a background in counselling as well, and I wanted to roll that into an environment that was open, welcoming, non-judgmental, and supportive for women to reach their goals,” Merucci Hsiung said. “I think that it’s extremely important still to have women only spaces. Because when you have a women only space, I think it opens up the opportunity to have conversations that may not happen in a non-women- only space.”

There are plenty of different reasons why women join female-only gyms, but her gym has niche that attract a certain crowd.

“We talk a lot about a lot of personal stuff. Especially after birth your body goes through a lot of changes,” Merucci Hsiung said.

Andfit does a lot of fitness work for women who are pregnant or are postpartum. They offer programs like indoor and outdoor stroller boot camp. The kid-friendly gym helps mothers make time for their bodies.

“Everybody has their own preferences. So one woman may not prefer to go to a women’s-only space. But I think that there is definitely a really large group of women that prefer and enjoy women-only spaces,” Merucci Hsiung said.

Merucci Hsiung said she has been told by some men that having a women’s-only gym is considered discrimination for excluding men.

“I’ll get once in a while someone saying: ‘oh it’s women’s-only space? Well, not having men in that space is being discriminatory’. I don’t think it’s discriminatory at all,” Merucci Hsiung said. “The reason for that is that it’s the same argument that will go for ‘we don’t movements like #metoo or equal pay. And I think there is always going to be spaces and places of work that will be male dominated. I think if you look through anything, even just through the London area, the gym mainly still is male dominated,” Merucci Hsiung added.

Women-only gyms can also offer a safe space to women who are concerned about harassment. Some women who have even been assaulted or abused may feel much safer and comfortable working out with a group of supportive women. Fear of going to the gym and being judged can be reduced for some women if they are in an all-female space. The sense of community these gyms emphasize on can help.