Elise Dilger
Tips and Tricks for navigating The University of Iowa Rec Center (as observed by me):
- The weightlifting on the first floor is SCARY and filled with college aged men lifting weights (only about half actually know what they are doing). Do not enter unless you are a college age man who knows how to lift weights.
- The many fitness classes offered are for college age women and old people ONLY. If you are a college age man and walk into one of those classes you will get weird looks. I promise.
- You do not go swimming in the lap pool unless you are in proper gear. Proper gear being: swim cap. goggles, and one piece bathing suit if you are a girl, swim trunks if you are a boy. DO NOT DARE WEARING A BIKINI.
While some of these things seem like ridiculous things to be concerned about when going
to the gym it is something I observe every time I go to the rec center. Right down to seeing girls
laugh when they see a male college student participating in a fitness class. Many people come to
the gym and immediately feel insecure about themselves when they should feel good about
themselves because they are working to better themselves. Why do people feel this way? Gym
culture has been a large factor in the negative body issues America has today.
To clarify my definition of “Gym Culture” is that every gym has rules and etiquette.
Some rules are as simple as not to block the aisles with bags, coats, etc or as unspoken as it is
rude to take showers over 10 minutes long. There is also the idea gym culture creates that in
order to go to the gym you need to look like you go to the gym which falls into the definition of
gym culture. Thomas Johansson sums it up nicely saying: “When entering into this world, you
therefore also become a part of a lifestyle, where certain attitudes, bodies and styles are valued
higher than others.”
One part of gym culture I have a love hate relationship with is fitness classes. On one
hand I enjoy the motivating environment of working out with the same people every week and
the motivation the instructors give you to finish the work out. Many people, and myself, lose
motivation during their workouts after about 20-30 minutes. Being in that space for an hour and
being held accountable (psychologically because in reality you can leave in the middle of a
fitness class if you wanted to) for staying that whole hour is very beneficial for the fitness class
goers.
While it is a great feeling being done after a hard workout. That “runners high” that
gives you an hour of energy and makes you feel great is one of the best feelings in the world. I
often have the “runners high” after leaving fitness classes, but that “runners high” is often
overpowered by the feeling of that I am not good enough. Instead of focusing completely on the
workout for that hour I find myself looking around the room and wondering why my legs are not
as toned as that woman in the blue shorts, or how can I get my stomach to be as flat as the girl in
the Linn-Mar High School t-shirt. I know I am not alone with walking away looking at my body
and thinking it could be better. Fitness classes are one way in which gym culture has a negative
impact on body image.
Then there are people many call the “gym rats.” These people look like they were born
and raised in a gym. They look like they should be on the cover of a magazine. These people
are part of the reason many non gym rats avoid the gym in general. Non gym rats believe gym
rats are judging them which gives them a poor body image. This is exemplified perfectly in the
form of a Facebook post a “friend” posted in early June. She stated: “So, I started going to the
gym again. For those of you that know me, I have a list of medical problems that makes the gym
not my friend (aka, I end up fainting). But, it's a good way for me to burn off some steam.
However, in the two days I've gone, I've realized what a horrible and judgmental place the rec
center is. Yes, when I work out, I look like a dying whale flailing to shore, and I openly
acknowledge that. But I'm there, and I'm trying, and it's not your place to judge me or to give me
a look that I don't belong there. No, I don't look like you, and I don't look like a runway model
glacially trotting across the treadmill wearing next to nothing to impress the douchebag grunting
as he lifts weights and tries to impress you. But I'm trying to do something I haven't been able to
do in a long time, and that means way more than you know, and way more than Barbie and Ken
trying to out beautify each other. So, please save your judgement for someone else.”
Immediately after reading this I couldn’t help but think about how the only reason she
believes people are judging her for not looking like Barbie or Ken is because that is what Gym
Culture one sees on television taught her to believe. The reality is that no one was probably
judging her. She was just looking around the gym and seeing people who do not have her exact
body shape and jumped to the conclusion she was being judged.
One way the media can help change this gym culture standard of looking like you belong
on the cover of a magazine could be to start having less fit characters seen more at the gym.
These characters do not need to have to plot focus around them wanting to lose weight either.
The whole purpose of the gym visit could just be to stay healthy. This gym culture that has
become a reality because of the believed stereotypes created around it has contributed to the
negative body image issue many people face today. Now people are feeling discouraged to even
set foot in the gym out of fear of being judged. This culture stereotype needs to change in order
to increase a positive body image and keep people coming to the gym to stay healthy!
Hahm, M., & Cohane, Q. (2013, March 1). Some find gym culture perpetuates body image stereotypes. . Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://bowdoinorient.com/article/8053
Journal of Sport and Social Issues May 2001 vol. 25 no. 2 158-179
Johansson, T. (n.d.). Gendered spaces: The gym culture and the construction of gender. . Retrieved July 22, 2014, from http://archive.today/X947M#selection-19.7-19.16
Before reading you blog, I never think about the “gym Culture”, I just think that everyone going to the gym just only one purpose,which is exercise for health. However, I agree with your opinion,many fitness classes provide for woman and old people. I always go to the Zumba class, and hardly ever to see a male to dance the Zumba. They might just feel embarrassing for dance. But I wish this situation can be change, everyone shouldn't have any pressure when they going to the Gym.
ReplyDeletethe beginning of your post is on point! literally the very very few times i've ever used the rec, i am so intimidated by everyone thats there. & I would never do the lifting stuff cause i was embarrassed that i'd be doing it wrong, or people would be looking at me like wtf..right then i see people running in jeans and i feel a little better but still...
ReplyDeleteon seriousness of your blog though, gym culture has really become such a competitive thing, rather than health. everyone is always trying to outdo others, its like really you don't have to look like models in magazines as long as your fit and healthy and exercising everyday. "gym rats" people who think they were born and raised in the gym haha, thats totally true and you see it so often it's kinda over the top and i wish people would see that thats really not the entire point of being fit and in shape.
I agree with everything you said. Gym culture sucks because most people that go to gyms like the rec seem to always be trying to put on a show. Then there's always those assclowns walking around trying to give other people pointers and judging people's form. It all comes with the shitty mindset that most people have that they have to prove that they're better than other people, which needs to change.
ReplyDelete