An Interactive Media Studies Student
Research Process
Research Methods
For this project, we were given the task to identify a problem that centers on an issue of gender in design, and create a redesign so that can be more inclusive. On the topic of gender within fitness, I conducted my primary research by interviewing multiple sources that provided me insight on how other people feel towards this subject and experiences they have gone through. I interviewed a handful of high school students, college students, young adults, middle-aged, and senior women and men, as well as gym owners and employees. I also gave a survey of questions to administrative staff from the Miami University Recreational Center, as well as staff from three local gyms. This allowed me to get the full scope of the issue and get a better understanding of how all types of people view gender within fitness. ​
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To fully understand the large scope that is gendered fitness, I needed to next do my own research on the topic. I was able to pull to studies conducted, as well as three articles written about personal experience backed with data. After collecting this research, and connecting it with interview notes and survey answers, I was able to focus on my next step in creating a marketing proposal to Miami University's Recreational Center. Before we get into that, below are my research findings.
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Initial Research
To provide background and understanding to the topic, I found two case studies and three articles on the topic of gender discrimination, specifically against women, within a workout environment that give insight on the problem at hand. Here are some main findings:
1. Weight lifting is beneficial to the physical and mental health of both men and women.
Well-toned muscles contribute to overall fitness and increase metabolism (Walberg 1989). They also help cushion the body from the effects of illness and slow the normal process of aging (cf. Angier 1999). Weight-bearing exercise is particularly important for women because after menopause, they lose bone mass more quickly than men. Weight-bearing exercise—particularly resistance training—can help prevent or forestall osteoporosis (Layne and Nelson 1999). Considered overall, lifting weights has clear biophysical benefits, some of which apply particularly to women. On top of this, there are also considerable psychological benefits of weight lifting for women. Eating difficulties, body dissatisfaction, and depression are far more prevalent among women and girls than men and boys, and weight lifting has been seen to benefit these issues.
- Salvatore, Jessica & Marecek, Jeanne. (2010). Gender in the Gym: Evaluation Concerns as Barriers to Women’s Weight Lifting. Sex Roles. 63. 556-567. 10.1007/s11199-010-9800-8.
Both men and women need to apply the same general principles: heavy lifting, a proper diet, enough rest to ensure overtraining doesn't set in, and cardio to supplement their program. Where women do differ - once you get down to much lower body fat levels and you are then trying to get rid of those last few pounds. At this point, due to estrogen levels and a mix of other factors it may be necessary to do some things in a different frequency, but weight training does not affect that. (Bodybuilding.com)
So in reality, weight training and overall working out has to do more with an individual’s own body and health, not their gender. Every person is different, every person’s diet is different, every person’s genetics are different. It should not be categorized between women and men.
To create a workout plan that is right for an individual, calculating their BMI Index and talking to a professional about what your age, height, and weight will require when working out is the best option.
2. Women often skip strength training when exercising due to barriers put in place by both men and other women around them.
These barriers experienced by women found in studies done include highly-gendered gym atmospheres, uncomfortable stares and whispering from other gym members, and fear of gaining too much muscle or weight. The study was done on 319 college students, with a majority of the women reporting their uncomfort coming from the presence and behavior of men, lack of knowledge on equipment usage, and feelings of self-consciousness.
- Pike, Rita. Her Agenda || Bridging The Gap Between Ambition and Achievement for Millennial Women, heragenda.com/study-shows-benefits-of-strength-training-are-overlooked-by-most-women.
In the study above, college women ​tended to use lifting equipment less than men. The cause of this is thought to be a mix of different factors, and the study resulted in a few conclusions. First, women may these weight training areas of gyms because they see them as masculine spaces; the absence of women reaffirms the gender coding of those spaces and thus, serves to perpetuate women’s avoidance of them. Similarly, many women may avoid weight lifting because they see it as a masculine activity; the small number of women lifting weights in turn reaffirms the gender coding of that activity. Furthermore, if women seldom lift weights, they will not become proficient with the equipment; lack of proficiency contributes to concerns about being seen as incompetent or inept.
- Salvatore, Jessica & Marecek, Jeanne. (2010). Gender in the Gym: Evaluation Concerns as Barriers to Women’s Weight Lifting. Sex Roles. 63. 556-567. 10.1007/s11199-010-9800-8.
3. Traditional gender ideals have a direct connection with an individual's chosen gym activites.
In this study above conducted by Stephanie E. Coen, Mark W. Rosenberg, and Joyce Davidson, results showed that participants made direct connections between their desires to attain particular gendered ideals and their chosen gym activities.
The following quotes were said by participants:
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“We like to be able to pick up heavy objects, you know [laughs]. It's a manly kind of thing I suppose, you know. So, yeah, I think that, that, uh, yeah, my gender, you know, predisposes me to wanting to do more of the heavy lifting kind of stuff,” Gary, 58, male. ​
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"I began with the side glide machine, I still don't know what it’s called. I did this for 5 min. and asked myself ‘why do I pick this machine’ because I really don't like it. Then it dawned on me, someone told me it was good for my inner thighs," Helen, 48, female.
- Coen, Stephanie E., et al. “‘It's Gym, like g-y-m Not J-i-m’: Exploring the Role of Place in the Gendering of Physical Activity.” Social Science & Medicine, Pergamon, 2 Nov. 2017, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617306536?via%3Dihub.
Interviews
Interview Participants:
High School
Natalie Niemann (Senior)
Joy Bowling (Junior)
Celeste Tinsley (Sophomore)
Trevor Hoffmann (Senior)
Luke Widener (Junior)
Caden Hibbard (Freshman)
College
Ethan Tinsley (Sophomore)
Sean Gonzalez (Senior)
Eian Vargas (Junior)
Macrae Hanke (Sophomore)
Chris Lee (Freshman)
Stella Hubbard (Freshman)
Ellen Duff (Freshman)
Sarah Redett (Junior)
Jackie Stuart (Sophomore)
Kayla Holsinger (Senior)
Rec Center Employees
Mike Arnos (Senior Director, Programs & Academic Partnerships)
Doug Cury (Executive Director for Recreation Services)
Loraine Sheley (Program Associate)
Elizabeth Keith (Associate Director )
Professionals
Jill Malone - Co-owner, Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor
Anytime Fitness Oxford
Interview Questions:
Findings
High School and College Students
Out of 8 men and 8 female participants, (3 of each in high school, 5 in college), 7 female participants agreed that they have felt uncomfortable working out around the opposite gender, while 2 male participants agreed. When asked if they thought there was an issue with gender discrimination, all 8 women agreed yes, while 5 men said yes. When asked if they include weight-lifting or strength training into their workout routine, 4 women said yes while all 8 men said yes. Most commonly, female participants in high school tended to work-out because of a school sport's team or recreational team, but still felt when using equipment that they would be judged if the opposite gender entered the room. College participants based their experience off of personal use of a university or apartment complex gym.
This shows only Miami students data. I interviewed 5 female students and 5 male students of different grade levels and, and when asked if the Rec. Center did a good job at making the student feel comfortable with strength training, all 5 girls said no, and all 5 boys said yes. When asked if they would join a potential education class on how to lift weights or attend a Group Fit strength class, all 5 girls said yes, and surprisingly 4 of the boys said yes.
Rec Center Administrative Staff
Below are some of the interview questions I asked with the answers given by the Rec Center Administrative staff.
Do you feel like there is an issue with gender discrimination within the world of pysical fitness? (Example: Gym environment, gym-related products like protein powder or pre-workout).
At the Miami Rec, have you seen a difference in how different genders work-out?
At the Miami Rec, are there any rules or regulations in place to prevent gender discrimination? (Example: What happens when a student is feeling uncomfortable with someone staring or harassing them, what happens if one gender gate keeps a certain area of the gym, etc.)
Do you feel like the Miami Rec does a good job of being an inclusive work-out environment?
Do you think that in the future, a strength-training class could be offered / would be beneficial through the Group Fit classes at the Rec?
After speaking with these administrative staff members, it was apparent that none of the four felt like there was an issue going on inside the Rec center, while the Miami University students felt there was.
Fitness Professionals
Below are some of the interview questions I asked with the answers given by two owners of independent gyms in the area, Impact Fitness and Anytime Fitness Oxford.
Do you feel like there is an issue with gender discrimination within the world of physical fitness? (Example: Gym environment, gym-related products like protein powder or pre-workout).
Are there any rules or regulations in place at your gym to prevent gender discrimination? (Example: What happens when a student is feeling uncomfortable with someone staring or harassing them, what happens if one gender gate keeps a certain area of the gym, etc.)
Have any of your clients ever expressed discomfort due to gender discrimination, or experienced an incident due to one's gender?
From the information I have collected through my research and my interviews, I have learned that my predictions were correct. Students who workout at the Miami University Recreational Center, and participants who worked out in environments with other people, were more likely to feel judged or experienced judgement if they were female. The owners of the independent gyms saw more incidents of gender discrimination than the Rec. Center supposedly has, but still do not seem to agree that gender discrimination was still an issue. This response could be to make each business look better than it is, as most staff members would not want to self-incriminate. Based on student responses, as well as personal experience, I believe there is still a problem here on campus. And people in power of making changes don't see that. Therefore, I have created a proposal for the Miami Recreational Center.