I heard Pilates is easy

“Boys run faster than girls.” As early as elementary school, this is something that P.E. teachers might tell their woman  students when discussing why their mile times tend to be slower than the boys in their class. 

One can look into other reasons, such as body composition and lung capacity, but this oversimplification is among the many that turn into false stereotypes about women and fitness. According to a 2021 survey conducted by athletic shoe manufacturer RunRepeat, nearly 30% of women stated feeling uncomfortable at the gym. There are many factors that cause this feeling of discomfort, but a notable cause is the significantly larger male population compared to women at many gyms. This can seem irrelevant at the surface level, yet for women looking to start at the gym, being in the minority can be a large barrier to entry. 

“Sometimes, girls could feel uncomfortable at the gym. They feel like they’re being watched or judged, or like men making them [be put in] uncomfortable situations. I feel like that’s probably one of the biggest barriers,” said Lior Ronen, a freshman majoring in human development and aging.

“One time, I took my friend to the gym, and we walked down into the strength room … and he goes, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a boy room,’” said Katie Almoney, a USC Village Fitness Center trainer and senior majoring in human biology. With weight rooms packed with experienced individuals, many gym attendees pick up on this notable gender imbalance. For some, this is a source of fear.

“Girls I train are scared to go down into the weight section because it’s intimidating because there [are] only ‘dudes’ down there,” said Halley Hoellwarth, a USC Village Fitness Center trainer and junior majoring in French as well as philosophy, politics, and law. 

Beyond the sheer feeling of being outnumbered, discomfort for women can also be traced back to fears of judgment, being watched or worries of feeling outclassed by their lack of gym experience. Even if you have knowledge and experience, a new environment can seem intimidating. This imposter syndrome is common, even for qualified athletes in many areas. 

“I get uncomfortable going to a regular gym … sometimes I don’t like going to the gym by myself [even though] I literally am an instructor,” said Maya Stoudamire, a CorePower Yoga instructor and sophomore majoring in communication. 

Aside from the general discomfort many women may face at the gym, many false stereotypes exist regarding women’s workouts, specifically related to their difficulty. As a new wave of workout trends has emerged — largely revolving around group classes such as pilates, yoga and cycling — those unfamiliar with these classes may make judgments about what they’re really like. 

“I feel like there’s a stigma that girls just go to easy workout classes, and they kind of just jump around and they’re not exercising. But every time I brought a guy friend to one of these classes, they’re usually struggling,” Ronen said. 

Stoudamire added that she watched a “Saturday Night Live” sketch where the actor pretended to be at a women’s workout class and joked about there being a “calorie meter” in the room, only for it to show five calories had been burned on the meter. Although intended to be funny, poking fun at workout classes that, in reality, take lots of skill and strength, can negatively affect women who frequently attend or are trying to start these classes. 

Another issue in fitness is women’s body image. Many women grapple with wanting to look a certain way, often because society tells them they “should.” According to a 1998 medical study led by Dr. Anne-Françoise Allaz about body weight preoccupation, “twenty-five percent of the women were satisfied with their weight, whereas 71% wanted to be thinner, although 73% were at normal weight.” It’s a phenomenon that many women in fitness have seen repeatedly and, even nearly three decades after this study, still remains relevant. 

“Diet culture here is noticeable. And I’ve heard some [students who] will be like, ‘I need to get on the treadmill and burn this off,’” said Leah Moore, a freshman majoring in mMechanical eEngineering. “It’s so easy to compare yourself and want to succumb to being as small as possible.”

This pressure to be thin, even when the desired weight is unhealthy, is very present in fitness despite it not being factual or healthy information. “[People’s] thought process and what they should be eating and how many times they should be working out … is not necessarily backed up by science,” Almoney said. 

Furthermore, some are scared away from certain workout types for fear of them “ruining” their desired physique. This, once again, is a misleading fear. “[Girls] don’t want to lift weights, and they don’t want to get bulky… [but] women don’t get bulky unless you have [certain] types of genetics,” Hoellwarth said. 

With ample amounts of false information and stereotypes circulating about fitness, workout culture for women is no easy feat. However, this does not derail them. Organizations such as CHAARG, a collegiate women’s fitness club, have made empowering women in fitness their mission. 

“Generally, as humans, doing things in groups makes things easier and more comfortable. So, we get roles in the gym in our small groups … they work out, and then fitness is fun,” said Elleana Bone, a sophomore studying cognitive science and founder of CHAARG’s USC chapter. “We don’t want girls to feel like they have to just be on the treadmill or just be on the stairmaster.”  

CHAARG emphasizes positivity, confidence and the friendships that can be shared over fitness. Recognizing that many women feel discouraged from going to the gym, the club works to make it a community-building space for women with this shared interest. 

“I think one of the things that I enjoy the most is having girls tell me that they’re grateful that they’ve found a place where they feel comfortable going to the gym,” Bone said. 

CHAARG often works to fight false stereotypes and unrealistic expectations of what women’s bodies “should” look like. Aiming to break the myth of working out for one’s “dream body,” CHAARG is a club rooted in empowerment and debunking common gym myths about women. 

“One thing we try to do in our executive training [is] talk about body standards, and if one of the members brings [them] up, how do [we] respond to that?” Bone said.

CorePower Yoga’s Yoga Sculpt classes also aim to encourage women athletes through positivity and not the idea of changing one’s physical makeup. 

“In my training, they were really mindful … of what you’re saying in class. I try hard not to say anything about bodies because it shouldn’t be about that … it’s really about the movement,” Stoudamire said. 

Besides positively affirming participants, others emphasized using online resources as a tool when it comes to remaining active as a woman. Some even recommended using TikTok as a resource. 

“TikTok is a really good resource for workout plans. I like Brittany Lupton; she’s awesome, so take what she posts, write it down in your notes app … and just tune out everyone else and focus on yourself,” Hoellwarth said. 

Lupton is one of many women fitness influencers who provide workout inspiration and motivation by making listed routines and posting them online. This is just one tool that can be game changing for those just starting to make exercise part of their routine. Others emphasized the importance of preparedness when it comes to feeling comfortable at the gym as — like with anything else — feeling confused can convert to panic without proper management. 

“If I go somewhere with a plan, and I know what I want to do while I’m in there, that kind of anxiety goes away, and you’re not as worried,” said Madison Peele, assistant sports performance coach for USC Athletics. 

For gym newcomers, this can mean starting small and sticking to more approachable machines. There is no shame in starting off small, as even for well-seasoned athletes and gym-goers, intimidation can be a deterrent at the gym. Having a manageable sequence made beforehand can help. 

“Go where you feel comfortable, whether that’s the leg curl machine or the dumbbell section or the CrossFit room … find somewhere and an exercise that you feel comfortable with,” Moore said. 

When it comes to feeling comfortable in the gym, the secret may not lie in chosen exercise routines, weight machines or workout rooms, but rather in one’s mindset. 

“No one is paying attention to you as much as you’re paying attention to yourself. Just go enjoy the workout, [and] feel good after,” Almoney said. 

This idea of feeling good keeps many consistent in the gym. Whether it be discipline or finding an escape from the pressures of everyday life, many seek the gym as a form of motivation that carries into other areas of life. “[Working out] makes me feel accountable if everyone’s showing up, and everyone’s pushing through, pushing themselves,” Ronen said. 

Besides perseverance, some work out for added strength and the help this may have with work outside of the gym. 

“I always found weightlifting super empowering. It makes me feel very capable and strong. And I also … feel like you get the most bang for your buck because you actually see results … [such as] walking up the stairs being easier and lifting things onto high shelves,” Moore said. 

With the physical challenges that a tough workout may bring, some may feel uninterested in the fitness realm. But as Peele noted, staying active is incredibly important, especially for college-aged individuals coming into their twenties. 

“Once you turn 30, your body starts to get worse by a percentage every year… [but] if you continue with regular activity, that percentage goes down and down and down every year, and then you increase your longevity,” Peele said. 

Whether it’s carrying heavy groceries or picking up packages, fitness prepares you for all sorts of physical tasks in everyday life. Challenges at the gym can make the other hardships of life seem far more approachable. 

“If you’re putting yourself through that kind of stuff, really pushing yourself in the gym, even if you don’t want to, you can translate that into other parts of your life,” Almoney said. 

Fitness goes beyond tangible “results.” In a world full of stressful, fast-paced living, sometimes we just need a way to get our minds off things and prioritize ourselves. Finding joy in movement is a joy that everyone should share. If we can put these stereotypes and insecurities behind us, fitness will be a journey every person can enjoy. We all deserve to be strong in whatever way is most meaningful to us.