This just makes me wonder

[cassie121]

Ok so at school gym class is co-ed but they seperate us when we get started into guys and girls groups. So we were lifting. The one teacher actually told me to lift less weight because I was going to get hurt. I was benching 85 on a machine which is fine because that's how much i bench 3x10 free weights. But a guy about 6 inches shorter then me and probably 30 pounds lighter was lifting the same amount and nothing was said. He doesn't play sports and has little atheletic ability and was obviously just trying to show off. Yet nothing was said to him. How annoying is this myth that girls can't lift as hard as guys? And where exactly did it come from? I understand they have more testosteron which makes them bulk up easier but that's just rediculous.

[Revmachine21]

Hey Cassie... your observations are right on par with mine. Here are some classic quotes from my school years:

"Let's separate the girls from the boys"
"Girls aren't good at math"
"The boys will have outdoor recess & play kickball while the girls learn about human reproduction"

If your gym teacher is making assumptions based on your gender, time for either you or your parent to call the teacher on it through the principal. This is not appropriate behavior for an education professional. If the teacher is overlooking risky behavior with the boys because of gender bias against the girls, the teacher is opening the school to risk from injury and discrimination lawsuits. This is not good for the school.

If courage is an issue, export thread to text, strip out any personal indentification information, and snail-mail anonymously to your principal or teacher.


What your teacher should have asked you before jumping to conclusions:
1) what is your current fitness program?
2) do you lift recreationally?
3) have you thought about trying out for the weight lifting team?

Good luck!

[cassie121]

thanks rev. But now that i've been thinking about it i'm not sure if it's because I'm a girl or if it's because i'm the "special" kid. However there are boys in the gym class with some sort of disability too and as far as I know the teacher doesn't act that way toward him.

[Revmachine21]

Either way, girl or 'special' kid, the gym teacher should have been asking you those 3 questions in my above post.

Don't allow your teacher's bias affect you!

Keep hitting it :-)

[cassie121]

....that would be my plan...i think first i'm gonna throw it in his face a bit...do the best i can at everything we do in there...go hard core on him see what he thinks then...can't very well discriminate if i'm showing up the others now can he?

[bbbom]

That's the way to do it. As disappointing as it is, there are still a lot of people that believe that girls aren't able to do many things boys can. I grew up with plenty of those biases surrounding me (born 1964), fortunately, my mom refused to accept it and she instilled the same stubborness or lack of concern for what other people consider "proper". My uncles (mom's 2 bros) raced motorcycles back when they were in their teens (1950's here) but grandpa told my mom that bikes were for boys and girls rode horses. My mom loved her horses but she wanted to ride a motorcycle just to prove him wrong. She went out one day, fired up my uncles 500 cc motorcycle and took off. All was great until she dumped it on a corner 2 miles from the house and had to walk back to get help to get it out of the ditch. She was definitely in trouble but grandpa never told her bikes were for boys again!

If I had listened to what others thought I should do I would have never have done a quarter of the things I love to do - construction, lifting, shooting, sports, motorsports, etc.

My best teachers in school were those that challenged me to prove them wrong, either because they wanted me to succeed or because they wanted me to fail. Didn't matter what their motive was if they said I couldn't do it and I knew it was something that I wanted to do - I found a way to do it.

My daughter is in 6th grade and 12 yo and she just broke the Middle School (6 - 8th grade) record for most pushups at once - boys and girls. I was soooo proud! Follow your dreams cassie and don't let anyone stop you from believing that you CAN do whatever you choose to do.

[fitinidaho]

What does a gym teacher know? Is he/she a personal trainer? LOL.....geez...lift what you feel is comfortable to you.

[Nicolets9]

hahahaaa i remember that!!! i was in ur shoes the other day...(3yrs ago) lol Yeah don't pay attention 2 that. I was always the chick throwin up high weight with the boys. I always felt so much cooler than everyone else!

Because Frankly--i can kick their ASS!!!!(and by the sound of it---that gym teacher aint got SH*T on YOU!! lol

[fitnessgurl26]

What does a gym teacher know? Is he/she a personal trainer? LOL.....geez...lift what you feel is comfortable to you.

eh hem...I am a gym teacher and i know a little bit. With that said, I think he is just using his bias and the old "girls are so different than guys mentality." I know how you feel. He is probably an older guy and unfortunately, you may not be able to change his old way of thinking. But, being a PE teacher, I would appreciate it if a student has an issue with the program, than he/she should come to me and we can discuss it. But, I am open and eager, especially to someone who is interested in improving. I would suggest you go straight to the coach, one on one and discuss your issues with him. He won't feel threatend or challenged, and just may be open to hearing you out. It is worth a try.

I hate the old way of thinking. I have female athletes now that I am trying so hard to convince that they won't look like men if they lift weights...but I can only lead by example, so i show them by using myself as proof!

But, I am a young female coach and we have two other young male coaches who aren't biased. Good Luck!