why we should address sexual harassment in gyms

 Why we need to address sexual harassment in gyms

A gym, Figure 1.
 
When you're in a gym you are there to workout. Nothing more nothing less, so why is it that men feel the need to make comments on women's appearance, take pictures of women, or physically touching them? I was sexually harassed at the gym roughly almost two years ago. I was squatting when I looked at the mirror in front of me and spotted a man taking a picture of me. I was frozen, shocked, in fear. It felt as though I was in a small black room with no way out. There were people around, but no one seemed to notice what had happened, or from as far as I know cared about what just happened. I immediately reported it, and nothing happened. The gym didn't care about what happened to me, and they allowed the man who victimized me still go to the same gym as me. We as a society need to speak up and address these types of incidents to whoever will listen. Change needs to happen!




Are we that ignorant to ignore sexual harassment in our gyms?

"Let me tell you a story about why men will never understand what it's like to be female. Figure 2."











A gym is somewhere for people to seek out fitness, destress, or just a safe environment to escape to. So why is it that so many women experience sexual harassment there? According to 2019 data by statistics Canada, 1 in 3 women are subjected to unwanted sexual behavior in public. In the news article global news there was an example given where a woman said she gave up running altogether. "I gave up running altogether because I felt like I couldn't run a few feet without someone saying something to me". Society shouldn't be making women feel as though they have to stop exercising entirely due to the fact that men can't keep their opinions to themselves. 


What is sexual harassment?

sexual harassment isn't just simply the physical aspect. It isn't grabbing or touching a woman, it could be just commenting on what a woman is wearing or asking for her phone number. Anything that makes someone feel uncomfortable and cause tension should be taken seriously. despite the law not prohibiting simple teasing and offhand comments, you should just keep them to yourself for the sake of others wellbeing. 




Do gyms take sexual harassment reports seriously?

From experience, a gym I went to, Planet fitness, did not take my report seriously. They told me they couldn't do anything due to not presently seeing the incident happen. really? nothing could be done because you weren't present to see it? Despite the gym I went to not doing anything there are some that do take these allegations seriously. In the news article The Daily Texan, it talks about what the University of Texas is doing and how they encourage people to report what they see happening. University of Texas said "we take sexual harassment allegations very seriously and address issues that have been reported. Anyone who experienced or witnessed any form of sexual misconduct by a student, faculty, university affiliate or visitor is encouraged to call or report the incident". Even though reporting incidents is encouraged, there is no adequate system currently in place to report sexual harassment at gyms. There is no mention of sexual harassment prevention nor a place to report it according to the Daily Texan. 



If gyms don't take these reports seriously, why even report it?

I understand the frustration that may come from this. When I reported my incident and nothing happened, I too thought the same thing. Why did I even report this for nothing to be done? Despite some gyms not being very cooperative and helpful, others may be different. It's always best for your voice to be heard. If the gym does nothing, go to corporate, if corporate does nothing, go to the police. There will always be someone out there willing to help you feel safe again. 



why might individuals be hesitant to report these incidents?


Individuals can be hesitant to report sexual harassment incidents for a number of reasons. Fear of retaliation is one reason. Individuals may fear that who they are reporting may know who is reporting at go after them. They also may fall into the Bystander effect. This is when they think someone else will just report it and if no one else is intervening they won't either.








Report these incidents no matter what, think about those affected not yourself!

Speak up image.
When it comes to those who are faced with being sexual harassment victims, how you feel and fearing reporting it is irrelevant. How would you feel if someone you knew was sexually harassed and no one reported it? If someone you knew like your mother, sister, girlfriend, cousin, etc. was a victim you would be furious if someone saw and failed to report such a thing. Speak up and don't let these 







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