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Nov 2012
12:33pm, 26 Nov 2012
13,181 posts
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DeeGee
OK, so if it's a physical appearance thing, is it not better to be mixed in with, or behind the men at the event, rather than running past them as a parade of pink lycra?
Because last time I looked men weren't banned from watching these events. And a heck of a lot of women bring their partners along to them.
So that's a heck of a lot of men to stand by and ogle.
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Nov 2012
12:38pm, 26 Nov 2012
14,861 posts
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sheri3004
I suspect it's more about perception than reality. Women may feel that they look silly, red-faced, fat, will be laughed at, or whatever and therefore feel more comfortable at a women only event, even though in reality few if any male runners would dream of making a comment or even notice. Obviously you can't do anything about male spectators.
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Nov 2012
12:39pm, 26 Nov 2012
22,442 posts
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Velociraptor
That's absolutely true, DeeGee.
Or, worse, a heck of a lot of men trying to be "helpful". I did a bike ride with a group of women earlier in the year, and it was great until the husband of one of the woman joined us at the end. Poor bloke, he really couldn't help himself from openly pointing out stuff that we were doing wrong.
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Nov 2012
12:40pm, 26 Nov 2012
9,433 posts
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runner duck
good point. maybe i've got it wrong, then. i'd always assumed that was the reason. maybe it's more about feeling intimidated? that a woman only event would be a less overtly competitive atmosphere? safety in numbers? not sure.
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Nov 2012
12:45pm, 26 Nov 2012
48,085 posts
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Puddington
I didn't always understand why women had any issue with men seeing them exercise, until I was completely humiliated by a group of men making comments about my body and making gestures at me. I have not had body issues, not bothered about people seeing me change (without being an exhibitionist, of course).
That day was such an horrific shock to me, I wondered if I'd ever go running again. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I know you only feel this way if you allow people to make you feel so, but it really did astound me the effect it had on me for a while.
If any other women have experienced something like that on any or more than one occasion, I totally get it.
And really, at the end of the day, what difference does it make to men if this sort of event exists? Ignore them and carry in with the mixed events where you are happy. If this works for some women and there is enough interest, why not? That's what I think anyway.
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Nov 2012
1:47pm, 26 Nov 2012
13,182 posts
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DeeGee
That's awful Pudds. Was that runners, or bystanders?
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Nov 2012
1:58pm, 26 Nov 2012
48,087 posts
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Puddington
Bin men. About 5 of them.
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Nov 2012
2:02pm, 26 Nov 2012
14,870 posts
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sheri3004
I hate that
It has happened to me on occasion, thankfully not often.
Unfortunately there are still some men, fortunately not that many, who find it perfectly acceptable to comment loudly to or about women they don't know.
Apparently "going out in public" makes us fair game.
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Nov 2012
2:06pm, 26 Nov 2012
22,443 posts
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Velociraptor
It happens the other way round too, and I'd imagine that an old bloke out jogging would feel just as threatened by a mob of Shaznays pointing and laughing at him. Which doesn't make it any less wrong.
(Why are there not more bin women? This needs addressing.)
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Nov 2012
2:42pm, 26 Nov 2012
262 posts
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Mave
Does it happen the other way round though? I can barely get through one run without a horn beeping, yelps, comments or catcalling at me from men. I've not noticed the same thing happening to men I see out on the street.
I want nothing more than equality. But we don't have equality. I'd also like to live in a sexist free world, but we don't have that either. So if a feeling of sisterhood and women only events makes more women take up running, then I think thats no bad thing.
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