A new study published in PLOS One looked at women’s body image and experiences of exercising in gym settings.
“Our study explores the experiences of women who exercise in gyms, focusing on the barriers they face, including issues related to body image and harassment,” study author Emma Cowley told us. Cowley works at the SHE Research Centre, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone, Ireland. “We aimed to understand how gym environments impact women’s confidence, comfort, and ability to fully engage in exercise.”
Based on previous research and anecdotal accounts, the research team anticipated that women might feel judged for their appearance or performance in gyms and face challenges like harassment or limited access to certain spaces, such as the weights area. They also expected to find moments of empowerment where women overcame these challenges.
“Gyms are increasingly popular, but women remain underrepresented compared to men in certain areas, like strength training,” Cowley told us. “We wanted to better understand the unique challenges women face in these spaces and identify ways to create more inclusive and supportive environments for them.”
Researchers conducted a mixed-methods study where 279 women participated in an online survey. This included both open-ended questions to capture their personal experiences and quantitative measures of body image and gym behaviours. The combination allowed the research team to explore their experiences in greater depth.
“Our findings highlighted that many women feel judged for how they look or how they exercise, leading to feelings of inadequacy,” study author, Kat Schneider told us. Schneider is from the Centre for Appearance Research, School of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England, in Bristol in the United Kingdom. “Harassment and unwanted attention from men, and perceived judgement from women, were also common. However, some women found the gym empowering, particularly when they defied stereotypes or exercised in supportive environments.”
While the research team told us they expected women to report challenges, the level of internal conflict—feeling judged no matter what they wore or how they behaved—was striking. On a positive note, the stories of women finding empowerment in gyms, they said, were inspiring, particularly how they took up space in the gym and showed themselves and others that they belonged there.
“The results underscore the need for gyms to address gender biases and create safer, more inclusive spaces,” Schneider told us. “This could involve anti-harassment policies, better staff training, and design changes to make gyms more welcoming for everyone.”