International Women's Day 2021
Gymshark

International Women's Day 2021

clock-circular-outlinePosted 8 Mar 2021

🇫🇷 | 🇩🇪

TOGETHER. WE MOVE.

THE STRONGER WE ARE, THE FURTHER WE'LL GO.

Together we are stronger than the sum of our parts, and far stronger than any obstacle that dares stand in our way. We don't stray away from challenge. In fact, we embrace it, because that is where we really thrive.

Right now, it's about challenging everyone to make every aspect of the gym accessible and enjoyable for every woman: no more silent stares, and a lot more loud support. So remember, even if you feel lost and it gets tough, you've got this, because you've got us.

Together, we move mountains; we move ceilings; we move forward. And every step we take inspires others to go even further. 

Recent Upload: The Athlete Chat

First broadcast on our Facebook Community page, Libby Christensen hosts an honest and open conversation with a few of our female athletes about their experiences of being women within the fitness industry.

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Challenging Belonging

By Women, For Women.

Have you ever walked into a gym and immediately felt out of place? As if people were judging your form, the amount of weight you were lifting, or even the outfit you decided to wear that day?

If you answered yes, a recent study by our Insights Team here at Gymshark, shows that you're in no way alone. Reality is, a large percentage of women still don’t feel like they actually belong at the gym. It's the staring eyes and unwanted attention, the fear of failure, or even the anxiety of being gender stereotyped, or compared to the girl across the room.

That's why this International Women's Day, we're creating a place for our women to open up and talk about some of the physical battles, mental missions, and dated expectations that are keeping them, and a large proportion of women globally, from working out. Our aim? Well, let's put it this way: less hesitation, more perspiration.

Through the telling of our communities experiences, we hope that we can continue to bring change - making gyms a much more welcoming place for everyone.

Thank you to the many women who – with their creative minds and outstanding talents – have helped bring this message and campaign to life. Animations and Illustrations by:

@annamantzaris / @kateisobelscott / @weronikamarianna / @hanwarr / @mylene.cagnoli / @annaginsburg / @c.a.t.l.i.t

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Barriers To Entry & How We Can Overcome Them

There's no denying that many women have broken barriers and pioneered future generations within the conditioning community.

Athlete: Katie Taylor battled for respect, earning the right to be able to compete in boxing as a female and at an Olympic level, having previously fought under the pseudonym: Kay Taylor - a brave, ambitious boy from Bray.

The list of incredible women that have not only created a legacy, but left the sport they love in a better place than when they initially found it, is endless. However, we must also remember that others are still fighting for their voice in sport to be heard.

"People don't talk about how when you break down barriers, sometimes, they fall back on you." - Sophie Butler.

The journey to create social change will never be an easy feat. But we believe that everyone deserves to do the sport they love, without compromising any part of themselves - physically, or mentally.

After all, conditioning is for everyone.

So, What Do Barriers To Entry Look Like In The World Of Conditioning?

Including, but not limited too...

  • Gym intimidation and anxiety

  • Body image and appearance

  • Attitudes and prejudice towards disability, race and gender

  • Unwanted attention and criticised performance

The big question is, how can we actually overcome these barriers to make the gym a more inclusive place? Well, that's what here to explore this month and beyond at Gymshark. Scroll down to find a glimpse of what we'll be getting up to...

What Can You Expect To Find This Month At Gymshark?

An open and honest conversation about the many barriers women still face at the gym today.

This month and beyond, you'll find a variety of content across our social media channels that honours the experiences and feelings of many women within the conditioning community, in the hope that we can bring awareness to the barriers that many women still face at the gym today.

See, the biggest challenge we - as females within the conditioning world - face is not our post-COVID 1-rep-max. It's normalising these types of conversations and finding ways that we can bring about change for the better.

Here's just a glimpse of what you can find this month at Gymshark:

  • Twitch Takeovers: we’ll be hosting a female takeover on our Twitch channel, giving some talented creators the exposure they deserve.

  • Athlete Q+As: our female athletes open up about some of the experiences they've personally faced at the gym in an athlete takeover on our IG.

  • Tips, Tricks and Motivational Quotes: with topics ranging from gym-intimidation, to how to feel more confident and comfortable at the gym, our community members are on hand with a few tips 'n tricks.

  • All of that, amongst much more coming this month.

Explore...

Click the banners below to explore what we've been getting up to!

First Up: A new audio clip from our 'Letter To My Younger Self' series. QiQi openly speaks up about what she needed to hear when she was 10 years old.
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Whilst many women have broken barriers and pioneered future generations within the conditioning community, others are still fighting for their voice in sport to be heard.

Right now, it's about challenging everyone to make every aspect of the gym accessible and enjoyable for every woman. So remember, even if you feel lost and it gets tough, you've got this, because you've got us.

Together. We Move.

This is just the start of the conversation.
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