“No. I’ve been alone in a gym with just one man many times.”
Oh, enough, Alice.
1. There are usually personal trainers and other gym staff walking around everywhere. I presume it’s pretty fuckin rare that a man would
physically try something with a woman (and HER, of all people). Like, it’s a gym—it’s a public place. And I HIGHLY doubt a man would physically touch her when there are BIG, MUSCULAR gym staff around the place lol.
2. If the guy is indeed, what I like to call, “touching with his eyes,” then unfortunately there’s usually little that can be done about getting him to stop, aside from notifying gym staff if it gets too intense/uncomfortable/persistent.
3. BUT, she can always hop on a Muslim clothing website and pick out some modest gym-wear—it’s primarily just clothing that covers more parts of the body. Instead of short-sleeved shirts, you got long-sleeved shirts. Instead of “athletic booty shorts,” as I call them lol, you got the typical long leggings that non-Muslims already wear. Instead of a jacket/sweater that shows your hair, you got a jacket/sweater with a cool, comfy, breathable little hood (the hood is a particularly “Muslim” aspect of the garment—there’s no need to wear it if you’re fine showing your hair). And, my favorite feature: all tops are sewn just a little bit longer to
completely cover your ass, so them pesky jerks who go to gyms to stare at the “personal parts” of the ladies have literally nothing to see. NO ONE cat-calls me on the street or eyeballs me in the gym because my clothing deters them.*
She’s making a big deal out of nothing. It’s “scary”—oh, hush up. You’re in a GYM, not walking home down a dark alley in a dangerous part of town without your cellphone.
And I mentioned the modesty clothing above^ in case any of you ladies ever get uncomfy with being stared at and are looking for a solution. I used to run through Boston in “athletic booty shorts” and a sports bra and it was GREAT lol because no one said a word; they were pretty much always respectful. Seven years later, now that I’m home again in this trashy town full of disrespectful people (and now that I’m taking Islam more seriously), I rely on these garments to feel comfortable. All of the clothing is totally breathable and made from the same fabric as non-modest garments.
*Don’t get me wrong—I believe men should be held responsible for respecting women and their boundaries in the first place…but since that’s apparently so hard to achieve at this time, then the next best thing is to just keep ‘em from checking you out in the gym.