Barriers women face in accessing the gym
Yes, it’s 2025 – but many women still face barriers to participating in fitness, ranging from practical constraints to ingrained social and psychological factors. Creating an employee wellness system that supports women starts with understanding what they might be up against.
Logistics
Many women will have time constraints due to disproportionate caring responsibilities, and may feel uncomfortable using their limited free time for fitness (even if they know it’s important). Then there’s issues of affordability and lack of flexible membership options that fit around children or ageing parents.
Psychological
Some women will struggle with confidence and body image in the gym, especially in the strength training area where unfamiliar equipment demands new skills. They may have imposter syndrome, anxiety about being “fit enough”, or concerns about harassment or unwanted attention.
Social and cultural
Cultural expectations and gender stereotyping, lack of visible representation, and limited female gym staff or fitness trainers can all be barriers to participation. According to Sport England , 62% of women cite fear of judgment as a barrier to exercise, while Vitality’s research reveals that 79% of women struggle to find time for physical activity. These statistics highlight the complex factors that can prevent women from engaging with the gym.
Are things improving for women in the gym?
Despite these persistent challenges, there are encouraging signs of positive change in women’s gym participation. One of the most significant shifts has been the dramatic increase in women doing strength training. The stereotype that weights are for men is fading into the past, with the Nuffield Health Healthier Nation Index showing a 25% increase in women resistance training between 2019 and 2023.
And there’s a surge in older women embracing fitness. 2024 research from Vitality found that 27% of women aged 40 to 59 reported exercising five times a week, compared to 19% of women in their 20s.
The fitness industry has increased its women-specific offerings, too, from women-only gym zones to specialised classes, and courses on women’s fitness needs.
How can employers support female employees to access the gym regularly?
Employers can make a big difference, with inclusive and flexible employee benefits, supportive internal comms, and a practical approach to removing barriers.
Make sure your wellness benefits are flexible, so women can use them across multiple facilities to suit their schedule. Include family-friendly gyms, female only gyms and classes, and access to digital fitness content. Recognise that childcare can be a significant barrier and consider solutions including flexible working hours to accommodate gym visits.
Your internal communications about fitness should use inclusive language and communicate the benefits beyond weight loss or aesthetics. Share success stories from women of all ages, sizes, and abilities and provide support about women-specific health topics.
Consider inviting diverse female fitness professionals to speak at workplace events, highlight female leaders who prioritise their physical wellbeing, and share stories of women in the company who have incorporated fitness into their lives.
Inspiring female role models in UK fitness
Here are just a few of the women reshaping our understanding of female wellbeing, and providing visible representation at different stages of life.
Jacqueline Hooton
At 62, Jacqueline Hooton has become one of the UK’s most influential fitness advocates for midlife women. A personal trainer and fitness educator, Jacqueline began her fitness journey in her 40s after having children, when she realised the importance of strength training for long-term health.
Jacqueline challenges ageist stereotypes and promotes the benefits of training, often posting workout ideas from her garden or home gym. Her focus on functional fitness (and having fun) has resonated with thousands of women who previously felt excluded from fitness spaces.
“We’ve come a long way, but have much work to do to tackle gendered ageism in health and fitness. We need to support women of all ages to be physically active. I should not be the oldest woman in the room. I want to see more women in their 70s and 80s in fitness spaces, inspiring all of us to embrace active ageing,” she has said.
Emily Campbell
Emily Campbell made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first British woman to win an Olympic medal in weightlifting, taking silver in the +87kg category. Her journey to the podium began relatively late – she took up weightlifting in 2016 after previously competing in athletics.
Emily faced financial barriers to sport and initially struggled to find her place. Her perseverance and talent led to breaking barriers for women and for athletes in larger bodies, who often face additional discrimination. Emily continues to advocate for greater diversity in strength sports and works to make weightlifting more accessible to women from all backgrounds.
Baz Moffat
As a former GB rower turned women’s health coach, Baz Moffat co-founded The Well HQ, an organisation dedicated to improving women’s health through education and training. After experiencing the lack of women-specific health knowledge in sport, Baz committed to changing the landscape for future generations.
Baz’s journey in fitness began conventionally, but she soon recognised the gaps in understanding around women’s bodies, particularly around pelvic health and the impact of menstrual cycles, pregnancy, post-partum, and menopause on fitness.
She is on a mission to stop women from being treated and talked about as “small men” and through The Well HQ is leading vital conversations on topics as diverse as gendered language, sports bra design, and how we can all understand our bodies better.
Inclusive fitness benefits for female employees
By offering flexible wellness benefits that accommodate women’s needs and preferences, employers can play a significant role in helping more women experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of regular exercise.
Hussle’s flexible fitness benefits offer discounted access to thousands of different gyms, pools, and leisure centres around the UK. Talk to our team to find out how Hussle’s fitness benefits can work for you – request a quote to find out more.
