working out in a skirt: the ongoing saga

[belenen]

icon: "bloodcurdling (photo of me w wide-eyed snarling wild expression wearing "Red Queen" makeup: searingly red lips, darkened pointed eyebrows, black eyeliner, deep red & black eyeshadow accented with gold & silver, and black-outlined silver hearts & diamonds with red shadows on my cheeks)"Every time I go to the gym, I am by far the fattest femme

Comments

[wantedonvoyage]

Good on you for speaking truth to power about nonsense policies!

[belenen]

thank you!

[ragnarok_08]

Good for you!

[belenen]

thanks!

[mac_arthur_park]

Thank you for standing up.

[belenen]

welks! I try to resist whenever I know I can do it easier than most in my position.

[choco_chippie]

So many people, including myself, would be too intimidated to stand up for themselves. Thank you for making that stand.

Also, I used to work at a gym and I've never heard of a dress code that barrs exposed skin because of sweat on machines. 1. Gym etiquette dictates that you wipe down machines after you use them 2. Employees wipe down machines with sanitizing spray periodically (I know, I did this) and 3. People take showers after their workout. It makes no sense.

[belenen]

The exposed skin bit is explicitly about midsections in the policy, which honestly is another sexist policy because it is not men who tend to wear tops that don't cover the area between the ribcage and the waistband. But I would rather other people not be getting their sticky skin on the leather of the machines, and I do think that would wear out the padding covers on the machines faster so I don't mind it too much.

but also I seem to be the only one who carries a towel and wipes them down after. yet they are always after me and not telling these others they need to follow the rules, which shows where their priorities lie.

[daphnep]

1) that is a fantastic letter
2) I have never thought of this issue but admire the fuck out of you for attacking it and standing up for this point
3) think you are incredibly brave for doing it through your anxiety and in-person with multiple staff members
4) as an avid wearer of both skirts and skorts, including as athletic wear, am appalled you’re getting flak for it. I have never been asked to leave anyplace and now I’m realizing that as an unrecognized privilege.
5) just want to applaud this as loudly as I can. Go, you! Keep us apprised of the final outcome.

[belenen]

thanks lots! I am flattered you think my letter is fantastic! *beams*

[call_me_katya]

Completely agree. That is an excellent letter and I'm proud of you for sending it and repeatedly expressing yourself to staff. I worked out in a sort-of dress [with leggings] once and remember being worried in case someone stopped me. No-one did which, as Daphne says, was likely privilege. Go you!