Women are quietly leaving coed gyms in greater numbers, and it’s not because they’ve lost interest in fitness. The reason for this is that many people have become weary of being on exhibit when all they want to do is train. Some people choose to walk away as a way to regain their focus, privacy, and peace of mind rather than as a sign of defiance. Originally marketed as a place of equality, the modern gym has turned into a mirror reflecting many of the disparities that women encounter on a daily basis.
Features writer Kia-Elise Green of The i Paper described a strange but recognizable experience. An older man approached her after she finished a leg workout, grinned, and said, “Do that again so I can watch from this angle.” His words were sufficient to cause her to leave early, leaving her workout undone and her headphones still blaring. Many women can immediately relate to this story. According to Green, she frequently wore loose-fitting sweatshirts and maintained eye contact with the floor in the gym—minimum self-preservation in an environment intended for personal development.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Topic | Why More Women Are Walking Away From Co-Ed Gyms |
| Key Factors | Harassment, intimidation, self-consciousness, lack of safe space |
| Current Trend | Surge in women-only gym memberships and online fitness communities |
| Social Data | 69% increase in Google searches for women-only gyms (2024) |
| Emotional Drivers | Comfort, empowerment, and community over performance pressure |
| Key Figures | Ivy Ash (singer), Kia-Elise Green (journalist), Emma Cowley (researcher) |
| Global Examples | StrongHer (London), Lift 4 Women (Austin), Curves (U.S.) |
| Social Context | Reflection of broader gender equality and personal safety movements |
| Reference | The i Paper – “Why More Are Turning to Women-Only Gyms” |
These subjective experiences are remarkably clearly supported by research. According to a study by the SHE Research Centre in Ireland, almost half of the women who participated reported that they had heard uninvited comments about their appearance while exercising, primarily from men. Many reported avoiding entire areas, especially weight zones, due to stares, unsolicited advice, or subtle condescension, and nearly four out of ten acknowledged feeling intimidated in coed settings.
Leicestershire singer Ivy Ash has a clear memory of her own experience. She claimed that men would approach her, touch her back, and give her advice on how to properly squat. “It never felt like help, even though it was always presented as such.” After a while, like many others, she completely stopped going in the evenings and planned her escape route before entering. She clarified that it is mentally taxing to be on high alert all the time. “Safety and fitness shouldn’t have to be mutually exclusive.”
Many women’s responses have been especially clear: they’re just picking better places to work out instead of quitting. Virtual fitness groups, community studios, and women-only gyms are turning into safe havens for people looking to avoid unwelcome attention. Ivy now trains at a gym exclusively for women, calling the experience “liberating.” She is no longer concerned about whether someone is observing her or how she appears mid-set. “It’s turned back into a constructive, social experience,” she remarked. “I really like going.”
Her sentiment is reflected in the numbers. On TikTok, hashtags such as #womensonlygyms have received over 18 million views, indicating a significant cultural shift. Google searches for fitness facilities exclusively for women had risen by almost 70% by the beginning of 2025. This trend is about belonging, not just exclusion. Women are gravitating toward environments where work is valued above beauty and where uninvited criticism is replaced by encouragement.
Female members felt much safer and more motivated in settings that put performance above appearance, according to Emma Cowley, the researcher behind the PLOS One study on women’s gym experiences. She referred to these areas as “empowerment zones,” where anxiety subsides and consistency flourishes. The formula works amazingly well: women train harder and stay longer when they feel safe.
The same change was observed by Jen Shaw, founder of Austin’s Lift 4 Women. She clarified, “Most women are afraid of being judged while working, not of working hard.” To address that issue, her studio was constructed. Women move freely, laugh loudly, and lift heavy objects without the uninvited corrections or subtle competition that characterize mixed environments. Shaw thinks that long-term motivation and mental health benefit most from this autonomy.
But behavior is only one aspect of the problem. From the positioning of mirrors and equipment to the tone of gym advertisements, many coed gyms still adhere to a culture that was created primarily for men. Low-cost gym chains frequently put growth ahead of inclusivity and fail to implement anti-harassment policies, as Athletech News pointed out earlier this year. An implicit message is conveyed when there are no clear boundaries: discomfort is a normal part of life. That trade-off is no longer acceptable to many women.
The discomfort is only exacerbated by cultural expectations. Women have been taught that cardio is “feminine” and strength training could make them “too bulky.” Women’s behavior in gyms has been influenced by this antiquated dichotomy. The fact that even famous athletes like Serena Williams have been scrutinized for their bodies is evidence that body policing persists. Women are forced to deal with criticism in the gym before they can even concentrate on their performance.
There are also connections between the move away from coed gyms and larger societal trends. This shift is being spearheaded by younger women, especially those in Generation Z, who place a higher value on boundaries and well-being than on looks. They are drawn to more intimate, community-oriented studios, such as London’s StrongHer, where genuineness is valued above beauty. These settings are highly adaptable, providing everything from mindfulness exercises to strength training, enabling women to link emotional fortitude and physical fitness.
Coed gyms are starting to react. To promote safety, some have instituted staff training programs, female-only workout hours, and separate reporting systems. However, progress is still uneven. Women are still expected to “handle” inappropriate encounters in many chains, which is a burden that should never have been placed on them.
The optimism of this moment is remarkable. The exodus from coed gyms is a bold step toward self-defined empowerment rather than a retreat. Women are demanding environments that value equality, respect, and effort and are refusing to sacrifice comfort for convenience. The mission of these new fitness communities is very clear: they are there to support, not to divide.
The essence of fitness has always been self-discovery. Many women now make that discovery outside of the coed gym. It takes place anywhere they can move around fearlessly, including online collectives, backyard workouts, and smaller studios. Regaining autonomy is the goal of the change, not rejecting men. Relief, not rebellion, is what defines this quiet, steady revolution.
