We know that for many women, gyms and leisure centres are a vital part of their active lives. But we also know that safety concerns, from intimidation to harassment, are very real feelings for many women and girls.
That’s why, since 2022, we have been working with ukactive on Safer Spaces to Move — a project designed to help fitness and leisure facilities become places where every woman and girl feels safe, respected and free to move however she chooses.
Research shows that sexual harassment is prevalent across society, with 71% of women of all ages having experienced some form it in a public space.
And harassment doesn’t stop at the gym doors; in fact, for too many women, it’s part of the experience.
Our research, carried out in 2023 with ukactive, found that:
Four in 10 (42%) women said they had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or intimidation, such as inappropriate comments, staring or encroachment of personal space while in a gym or leisure facility.
For those aged 16 to 24, the figure for women saying they had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment or intimidation, such as inappropriate comments, staring or encroachment of personal space while in a gym or leisure facility, increases to 83%.
76% of those who had experienced sexual harassment or intimidation reported changing their behaviour as a result – including doing things such as changing the way they dressed or the times they visited the facility.
Little more than half (55%) of women agreed that it was clear how to report sexual harassment or intimidation at their fitness or leisure centre, with just 25% of those experiencing an incident, reporting it.
Through our partnership with Sport England’s This Girl Can we are working collaboratively to ensure all women and girls have the opportunity to utilise our members’ facilities to enjoy being physically active in any way they choose, in an environment that feels both empowering and safe.
Together with the sector, we want to ensure that should anyone need to report an incident they can do so in the knowledge that issues will be taken seriously and managed effectively.
Any form of harassment in fitness and leisure facilities is totally unacceptable and we expect operators to take a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and intimidation, to ensure all women and girls feel confident and safe being active in these environments.
The sector will continue to support millions of women and girls to be active and enjoy all the benefits that being physically active can bring.Head of membership and sector development, ukactive
The Safer Spaces to Move hub offers free tools, training and guidance for gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities.
Resources include:
