One of the first pieces of This Girl Can research I saw back in 2014 was women talking about the ‘dreadmill’, and viewing gym sessions as punishment for not having the right sort of body or diet.
When we launched the This Girl Can campaign back in 2015, liberating women from the fear of judgement that stops them from getting active was our bold mission statement.
When more women feel they can get active without worrying what others think, then more will be able to enjoy the benefits it brings and we can tackle the stubborn gender activity gap, too.
However, in 2021, This Girl Can recognises that while we still need to influence how woman are thinking and feeling in relation to being active, we also need to look at the more systemic and practical things that make a difference in helping more women turn the intention of getting active, into action.
The environments within fitness and leisure facilities are important for sustaining women’s activity levels; prior to the pandemic, 21% of women were regular participants in fitness classes, while the number taking part in weights sessions was also seeing an increase.