{"id":13529,"date":"2025-03-06T17:18:28","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T10:18:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=13529"},"modified":"2025-03-06T17:18:28","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T10:18:28","slug":"fuck-the-patriarchy-why-we-need-more-feminism-in-fitness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=13529","title":{"rendered":"Fuck the Patriarchy: Why We Need More Feminism in Fitness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><strong><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-316472 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_webp,q_glossy,ret_img,w_723,h_482\/https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"723\" height=\"482\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-316472 aligncenter lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"723\" height=\"482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2445884713-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\"\/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019m just going to say it: It\u2019s time to stop viewing health and fitness through the lens of men. We need more <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/2018\/01\/10-songs-for-when-youre-feeling-feminist-af\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">feminism<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in fitness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Renowned American sociologist Allan Johnson said, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA society is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/2017\/08\/smash-the-patriarchy\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">patriarchal<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the degree that it promotes male privilege by being male-dominated, male-identified, and male-centered.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For too long, health and fitness narratives have been dominated by a narrow, problematic perspective\u2014one that centers the needs and desires of white, heterosexual, cisgender men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">patriarchy<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> refers to a social system where men control a disproportionately large share of social, economic, political, and religious power.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patriarchal systems ignore issues unique to women, like lack of paid parental leave and poor maternal healthcare and support. They also normalize gender-based violence and control over women\u2019s reproductive rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For generations, women\u2019s health and fitness has been viewed through the lens of <\/span><b>diet culture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014the belief that having a thin body is healthy and consequently, that those in larger bodies are unhealthy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The roots of diet culture grew out of the patriarchy. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, religious white Christian men publicly equated deprivation with health and health with morality. During the time of slavery in the U.S., white supremacy intertwined with the belief that smaller bodies (read: white bodies) equaled goodness, while larger bodies (read: African bodies) were morally inferior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, diet culture is perpetuated by capitalism. Think about it: everyone and their mother is selling something to make our bodies thinner, and it\u2019s a multibillion-dollar industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Media and popular culture have reinforced patriarchal norms by perpetuating gender stereotypes and objectification\u2014specifically the belief that for women, thinness is morally superior, \u201chealthier,\u201d and therefore more desirable to men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From a young age, girls are taught to pursue a physical appearance that is attractive to white, heterosexual men. As adults, these same women are sold products and programs that continue to promote a physical ideal rather than promoting genuine health. This is how the patriarchy hijacks women\u2019s health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How the Patriarchy Shows Up in the Health and Fitness Industry<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The underrepresentation of women in sports media and the fact that female athletes, as well as fitness experts receive less coverage\u2014or coverage that emphasizes appearance over achievement\u2014has been a hot issue for the past 5\u201310 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are many covert ways the patriarchy influences the industry. Let\u2019s look at a few.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>The Patriarchy Says Positive Fitness Results Are Different for Men and Women<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look at health and fitness magazines, media, and programs for men\u2014what outcome are they selling? Now, look at the ones for women\u2014what outcome are they selling?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s not the same, is it? Apparently, if women are healthy and fit, they are lithe, dainty, and thin. Meanwhile, men are encouraged to get bigger and gain visible muscle mass. The notion that men should be strong while women are small permeates many aspects of society, but it\u2019s most clearly visible in the gym.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I tell someone what I do, they usually assume I help people lose weight. That\u2019s because most of us have grown up with patriarchal, diet-culture-driven beliefs about what health and fitness mean and look like.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was actually rejected from a podcast interview about former legal professionals and their new gigs because the host (who didn\u2019t know me) didn\u2019t want to talk about diet and exercise due to her own history with disordered eating behaviors. She ASSUMED I am a weight loss\/diet coach without ever speaking to me or looking at my website.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that\u2019s where we are now\u2014people think \u201cwomen\u2019s health and fitness\u201d means losing weight. I get why.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fitness magazines and ads perpetuate this by frequently depicting idealized, male-approved female bodies, reinforcing narrow beauty standards. Additionally, most fitness magazines focus on weight loss for women rather than muscle gain by promoting crazy-low-calorie diets and only using tiny pink weights instead of eating to fuel your body and lifting heavy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This framework urges women to shrink themselves, both physically and metaphorically. For many, exercise and food become tools of punishment and control rather than empowerment\u2014withholding food and over-exercising as penance for so-called \u201cbad\u201d behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My friend and colleague <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stephgaudreau.com\/\" class=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Steph Gaudreau<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> said <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stephgaudreau.com\/diet-culture-and-the-patriarchy\/\" class=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in this podcast episode<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe have this constantly being reinforced from a very young age\u2014that if we look the part, if we look a certain way like these body ideals and beauty ideals, we will be more worthy, that we will be better people. And it is absolutely a tool of the patriarchy.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women are expected to be both consumers of fitness content <\/span><b>and<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the aesthetic display, rather than active, empowered participants.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve been coaching people for 15 years. And in all that time, I\u2019ve never had a male client say to me:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI want to be stronger, faster, and fitter but I don\u2019t want to gain any weight.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDamn it, I feel great, but I\u2019m so pissed that I\u2019ve gained 8 pounds.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m crushing my workouts, but we really need to cut my calories because I think I\u2019m gaining weight.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At least once a week, I hear these statements from my female clients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And this overemphasis on physical transformation and aesthetics over overall health and functional strength negatively impacts women\u2019s health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udd39 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.humankinetics.com\/view\/journals\/ijsnem\/26\/5\/article-p421.xml\" class=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2016 study <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of female recreational exercisers found that almost HALF were at risk for low energy availability (not eating enough to cover daily calorie needs).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udd39 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/bf03325116\" class=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A 2009 survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of 4,023 women showed that approximately 3 out of 4 regularly engage in disordered eating and exercise patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\ud83d\udd39 That same 2009 survey also found that 53% of women trying to lose weight were already at a healthy weight but were still trying to lose more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is MADNESS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women, we are holding ourselves back by listening to this patriarchal messaging.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fitness isn\u2019t equated with small size or low body weight for men. And it shouldn\u2019t be for us either. <\/span><b>We deserve better.<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><b>Men\u2019s Issues Are Openly Discussed, While Women\u2019s Are \u201cGross\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many women view gyms as a \u201cman\u2019s world.\u201d And I get it\u2014because let\u2019s be real: men have been comfortable sweating profusely, grunting loudly, scratching their balls, and being unapologetically themselves in public fitness spaces. Meanwhile, women\u2019s health issues\u2014periods, bladder leaks, menopause symptoms\u2014are dismissed as taboo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The patriarchal approach to health and fitness has led to the belief that female bodies are gross or shameful. As a result, many women have learned it\u2019s \u201ctoo much information\u201d to mention their period, bladder leaks during activity, sore or full breasts while breastfeeding, perimenopause symptoms, or poor body image to their coach or trainer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be your coach\u2019s job to help you navigate these issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem? Women often don\u2019t feel safe bringing them up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And that\u2019s a huge loss\u2014because all of these are real, relevant factors in women\u2019s health, wellness, and fitness. They\u2019re not just \u201cnormal\u201d; they\u2019re barriers that a qualified coach can (and should) help you work through.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The longer we refuse to talk openly about the struggles women face, the less support women will receive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Women\u2019s Barriers to Better Health and Fitness Are Ignored<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the fact that women make up <\/span><b>two-thirds<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of personal training clients, the health and fitness industry continues to ignore systemic issues and social determinants of health that disproportionately affect women.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women often carry the lion\u2019s share of responsibility for kids, the family unit, and aging parents. That makes getting to the gym harder for women than their male partners.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One simple way we could help? Offer affordable childcare at gyms.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women deal with additional physical challenges, too:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Menstrual cycles bring shifts in energy, mood, and performance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnancy and postpartum recovery can involve core weakness, diastasis recti, and long-term changes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perimenopause can cause mood swings, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and joint pain that are often misunderstood and dismissed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary leaks during exercise are common but rarely discussed.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These knowledge gaps in coaches and trainers are perpetuated by the fact that personal trainers are not usually trained to help their clients deal with these issues because certifications that cover women\u2019s experiences are still <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">optional<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And it goes beyond certifications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For decades, women were excluded from scientific studies. Medical and sports research focused almost entirely on male physiology, which means we have massive knowledge gaps when it comes to supporting women\u2019s unique health needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider this: Erectile dysfunction treatments are easily accessible online\u2014often without even seeing a doctor. Meanwhile, women in their 40s struggle to find medical professionals who understand perimenopause, let alone offer solutions for the life-disrupting symptoms that come with it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Gym Environment and Culture Can Feel Hostile For Women<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike boys, girls are not typically introduced to the weight room at a young age. By the time they reach adulthood, women are uncomfortable in what they have always felt was a place \u201dfor the boys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many women also feel intimidated by the hyper-competitive, masculine energy of gyms. Some avoid the free weights section altogether. I\u2019ve even seen women have equipment taken mid-set by a man who assumed she wouldn\u2019t need the barbell, plate clips, or other \u201cserious\u201d gear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, harassment, objectification, and commenting on people\u2019s bodies are still pervasive problems in male-dominated gyms where \u201cboys will be boys\u201d behavior is still tolerated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, many top decision-making roles in gyms, sports organizations, and health companies are still held by men\u2014who often ignore women\u2019s perspectives and disregard their unique experiences when planning and managing gyms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So How Do We Fix It?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the patriarchy has hijacked health and fitness, feminism is the tool we use to take it back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A feminist approach to health and fitness challenges and transforms the industry by addressing systemic biases and prioritizing inclusive, evidence-based practices.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is Feminism?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At its core, <\/span><b>feminism is about equity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014political, economic, personal, and social. It recognizes that modern societies prioritize male perspectives and that women face systemic injustice as a result.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout history, feminist movements have fought to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Break down gender stereotypes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve educational, professional, and personal opportunities for women<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Secure rights like voting, owning property, earning equal pay, and accessing appropriate healthcare<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenge societal standards around women\u2019s appearance and physical capabilities<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure access to contraception and safe, legal abortions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protect women and girls from sexual assault, harassment, and domestic violence<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within health and fitness, feminism reminds us that women deserve to be seen, heard, and supported\u2014without being reduced to how we look or how well we fit into subjective beauty standards.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Does Feminism Matter in Health and Fitness?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The standard fitness industry approach is one-size-fits-all.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But women\u2019s experiences\u2014physically, emotionally, and socially\u2014are vastly different from men\u2019s. It\u2019s time we recognize that.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And the <\/span><b>barriers to health and fitness are more significant for women than men<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014especially as we age.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the issues I\u2019ve raised in this piece, here are a few other things that the industry typically ignores about the experiences of women:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of female-specific coaching and programs that account for women\u2019s changing needs and priorities throughout their lifespans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limited access to affordable childcare makes finding time to work out harder<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appearance pressure leads women to feel too self-conscious to go to the gym<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Women\u2019s activewear often prioritizes style over functionality (looking at you, see-through leggings and skimpy tops)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limited recovery due to the stress of having so much on their plates\u2014women sacrifice rest, which is essential for health and fitness <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(no, we do NOT all have the same 24 hours in a day)<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We know better now though. It\u2019s time to do better.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our Feminist Approach<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At my company, Miles To Go Athletics, which owns Fit Bottomed Girls, we believe everyone deserves the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health\u2014free from gender stereotypes and discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That includes transgender, nonbinary, and cisgender individuals\u2014anyone who\u2019s been harmed by the traditionally white, straight, male-centric lens of the fitness industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To be clear:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We believe trans women are women.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We welcome nonbinary and trans individuals who menstruate, experience pregnancy, or navigate menopause.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We are creating space for anyone who shares these lived experiences, even if we use different pronouns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our mission \u2013 at both Miles To Go Athletics and Fit Bottomed Girls \u2013 is to shine a light on the challenges women \u2013 and those of any gender identity with similar experiences \u2013 face and create inclusive, supportive health and fitness environments where everyone can thrive.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Future of Fitness Is Feminist<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s get one thing straight: The traditional fitness industry wasn\u2019t built for us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was built by men. For men.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re done trying to squeeze ourselves into a system that doesn\u2019t give a damn about our lived experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The health and fitness industry has centered the needs and desires of men for too long\u2014while leaving women and other marginalized groups to fit themselves into systems that were never made for us.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We can build something better\u2014something that honors the complexities of our bodies, supports us through every life stage, and prioritizes strength, health, and joy over punishing and perfecting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feminism gives us the framework. Now it\u2019s up to us to use it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ready to break up with patriarchal fitness culture for good?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2728 Start by questioning what you\u2019ve been taught about health, fitness and success.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2728 Seek out coaches, programs, and communities that prioritize <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">your<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> unique needs\u2014not outdated ideals.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2728 Advocate for real change in the spaces you occupy, whether it\u2019s your gym, workplace, or home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you want support from a community and coaches that are already doing the work?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Come join us in our app-based training community, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/milestogoathletics.com\/stronger365-promo\" class=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stronger365.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 We\u2019re not here to play by the old rules. We\u2019re here to burn the whole damn rulebook.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is fitness programming that works with your body, not against it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fitness that actually accounts for different life stages, stress, caregiving, and the million other things women and marginalized folks are juggling.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fitness that helps you get strong enough to handle real life\u2014and still have energy left over for joy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/milestogoathletics.com\/stronger365-promo\" class=\"external\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join us for only $19 for your first month here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>Because the future of fitness belongs to all of us. And it starts now. Join us!<\/b> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014Alison<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/fitbottomedgirls.com\/2025\/03\/why-we-need-feminism-in-fitness\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019m just going to say it: It\u2019s time to stop viewing health and fitness through the lens of men. We need more feminism in fitness. Renowned American sociologist Allan Johnson said, \u201cA society is patriarchal to the degree that it promotes male privilege by being male-dominated, male-identified, and male-centered.\u201d For too long, health and fitness &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fitness"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13529\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}