In today’s society, it can be hard to cater to a specific demographic without discriminating. However, there are benefits to providing a fitness center specific to women only. Weigh the pros and cons of a women-only fitness center to decide if opening one is the right choice for you:
Pro: Meet Women’s Specific Needs![COMM Week 2B]()
When catering to only women, you will minimize the variety of needs your health club will need to provide. For instance, there will be no need for separate locker and restroom facilities or classes. That way, your club can put all of its energy and focus toward providing the very best workout experience for women. In addition, it’s no secret that men and women’s bodies have different fitness needs, and a women’s only fitness center will allow women to receive a more personalized workout.
Con: Unintentional Stereotyping
There have been complaints that in “women’s only” sections of fitness centers that there are a lot of cardio machines and too few strength machines. This lack of diversity perpetuates the unhealthy mentality that women shouldn’t “bulk up,” but only “tone.” When creating your women-only fitness center, make sure you provide a variety of fitness equipment for a well-rounded workout.
Pro: Allow Members to Bond over Commonalities
By having a women-only fitness center, it allows members to bond over things they have in common with one another and build friendships. These common factors can range from physical (like the most effective workouts or sports bras) to biological (like menstruation and menopause) to societal (like the gender pay gap) and everything in between.
Con: Discrimination Complaints
While it is perfectly okay to have a women-only fitness center, it could stir up some controversy within your community. Not everyone agrees with the segregation of men and women and you may catch backlash for doing so. In addition, you may face the question of whether people who identify as transgender will be allowed as well. If your facility is going to claim to only allow a particular gender, you need to be prepared to define what that specific gender means.
Pro: Allows Women to Feel Comfortable
Some women simply feel more comfortable working out in the presence of other women. Joining a gym can be intimidating, and many women who are just beginning often feel too self-conscious to join a gym where men exercise as well. When limiting your fitness center to women-only, you allow all members to feel comfortable and less fearful of joining. In addition, the more comfortable they feel, the more they’ll work out on a consistent basis.
Con: Losing Out on Business from Men
While it’s great to be able to provide women with a more in-depth workout experience, this also means that your club would be losing out on providing men with a wonderful fitness experience as well. Not only will your club lose these potential memberships, but it could also steer away potential female members who are looking for a co-ed experience.
Get the Latest Fitness Center Tips from TRUE Fitness
Subscribe Today
The post Is Opening a Women-Only Fitness Center the Right Choice for You? appeared first on True Fitness.