new thread
For those who don't know, I have waist-length hair which, combined with my short stature and gentle face, causes me to be perceived as a girl more often than not unless I wear clothes that emphasize my body shape. That makes me very concerned about the reactions I could get by entering the men's locker room at the gym. I don't want to cause a panic or get harassed, but if I'm going to the gym to swim (and thus can't remain heavily clothed all the time), it's going to be obvious that I shouldn't go into the women's locker room. The gym does have a private family changing room (for a parent who's there with an opposite-sex child), but you have to ask management for the key, and it seems selfish to ask to use it even though I don't have a child with me. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do in this situation? I'd appreciate it if Dave_AR could weigh in on this, because as far as I've seen, he's the only guy on this board who's in the same league of androgyny as I am.
Hi Sören,
Being I'm a regular user of a gym my first thought is that the gym you go to is one you have a paid membership to use.From my experience the men's locker room consists of men of all ages and physiques.Everyone is respectful to one another being most are adults and wouldn't harass anyone for any reason.I think you might be overly sensitive about what you perceive might happen.As for the changing room you speak of my gym has those too and if you prefer to use it just ask for the key since you do pay your dues.With that said just go there, do your thing, and don't worry about what won't happen anyway.Cheers
Mârk
One thing I would mention it may also be contingent on what gym
you are using. You may run into something into that someplace at the Y but you may find someplace like Planet Fitness to be more hospitable. I had some complaints about this at the Y but never at Planet Fitness.
I'm in similar situation, I wouldn't worry about. I usually go to the gym every day, between being short (5'9"), slight in build,
having long grey hair, and always wearing cut off shorts i'm
sometimes mistaken for a girl from behind. I've never had it happen at the gym, it usually happens at the store when someone sees me from behind.
Between having grey hair, a moustache, being 60 years old, and having hairy legs it's generally obvious that i'm male.
I would suggeset just going to the gym and not worrying about it.
I've never had an issue with it at the gym.
Honestly, at the gym no one cares.
In the US (at least), there's really only a few things that you hear from the gym --
In the weights area:
'Can you spot me?'/'Can you set me up?' -- said to a stronger person for a bench press (and sometimes a squat) as a safety measure to ensure that the bar does not crush them. It's an implicit honor to be asked to do that...
'You're doing it wrong' -- only said when your form is absolutely egregious, and you are on the verge of getting hurt.
'Can you hold the camera?' -- Some people want to have their sets recorded. You're apparently on your rest time and seem to be open with that.
In the cardio area (and the weights):
'When are you done with the machine?' -- really only said when it's busy. You'll find yourself saying that if you're waiting for a certain machine.
Nobody will really say anything to you in the locker room unless if you spend too long in the shower or spread everything on the bench.
Have a good workout!
Again this depends on the gym you go to.
You'll find this at the Y or another gym. You won't find it at a
place like Planet Fitness.
(No I don't work for Planet Fitness).