A gym in Lancashire has banned women over 24 from using it during peak hours in an ‘ageist’ policy aimed at making its younger female members ‘more comfortable’.
The ban will be in effect from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays – hours that are already part of the gym’s female-only timings of 9am till 7pm – meaning older working women will have to workout alongside male members post 8pm.
This was the dilemma of one gym member who highlighted the policy change on Mumsnet before the facility was identified as Bodies in Motion in Pendle by Metro.co.uk.
Writing on the parenting platform, the 36-year-old asked fellow community members what they thought about the new rule, adding: ‘This is ridiculous, right?’
She posted a screenshot of a text message from the gym that explained the facility will be ‘reserved exclusively for women aged 12 to 24’ from Monday to Friday between 4pm and 7pm.
‘This update has been made in response to feedback and to better cater to our younger female members who require a dedicated, comfortable space during peak after-school and early evening hours,’ the text read.
The post sparked a flurry of comments as Mumsnet users questioned the gym’s ‘weird’ decision to bar ‘women of a certain age’ from using the facility during hours that are already reserved for females.
Since the gym was identified online, angry customers have accused Bodies in Motion of ‘discrimination’ – but the Lancashire facility has not responded to the backlash at the time of writing.
A gym in Lancashire has banned women over 24 from using it during peak hours in an ‘ageist’ policy aimed at making its younger female members ‘more comfortable’. Pictured:
(Stock image) The ban will be in effect from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays – hours that are already part of the gym’s female-only timings of 9am till 7pm – meaning older working women will have to workout alongside male members post 8pm
MailOnline has contacted the gym for comment.
Others confirmed that while the new policy had been announced, female gymgoers over the age of 24 could contunue to workout during their chosen hours if their access pass worked.
According to its website, the gym is billed as an inclusive space where ‘everyone – regardless of their background or circumstance deserves the opportunity to thrive’.
However, the new rules were branded exclusionary in comments under the Mumsnet user’s post, as one person wrote it ‘makes very little sense and seems ageist’.
‘I don’t see why a 12-year-old would be okay to workout with a 24-year-old but would it find intimidating to see another woman of say 30, or 45?!’ their comment read. ‘Just imagine if you had a 12-year-old daughter and you wanted to introduce her to it but couldn’t because you’re too old.’
Weighing in on the debate, another shared that while it might make sense to reserve the gym for younger women occasionally, ‘blocking off the time that any working women would want to use the gym every week day is bonkers’.
A third added: ‘I wonder if they’re trying to attract the influencer-type crowd for some free marketing.’
Another flabbergasted user added: ‘Surely they can’t specify age in this way? Either way, I’d be cancelling my membership and making very clear why.’
This was the dilemma of one gym member who highlighted the policy change on Mumsnet before her post received a flurry of comments criticising the new rules
Several women similarly advised the Mumsnet user to ‘vote with your wallet’ and suspend her membership until the dispute is resolved.
The discussion spilled over on to Reddit where the policy was also heavily criticised.
‘Girls and women under 24 need a safe space from…women over 24?’ one person’s message read. ‘Am I missing something?’
A small group of people also sided with the gym, with one person suggesting there’s a ‘purpose in providing a space’ just for teenage girls who might be awkward or conscious in front of older members.
Their comment read: ‘Not ridiculous at all – teenage girls collectively are a group highly at risk of stopping exercising.
‘There’s a purpose in providing a space just for them, just as there is a purpose in women only gym sessions in the first place. If the gym managers think there’s a workable business case for making it work good luck to them.
‘If it doesn’t then they’ll go bust.’
Another said: ‘If the gym can identify a legitimate aim – and they have done, “to better cater to our younger female members who require a dedicated, comfortable space during peak after-school and early evening hours” – then they are free to do it, and other users are free to cancel their memberships.’