The Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) is running a campaign to introduce women-only gym times at the athletics facilities on Ryerson University’s campus.
RSU president Melissa Palermo said requests from female students initiated the campaign.
“The campaign for women’s-only gym time grew out of a need we heard from women identified students who for a variety of reasons including the need for religious accommodations, issues with body image and/or past experiences of trauma cannot currently use the athletics facilities on campus,” she said.
All Ryerson students must pay for the athletics facilities on campus, according to Palermo.
“We believe it is important to make these facilities accessible to as many students as possible on campus,” she said. “Right now the only women’s-only hours that exist on campus is one hour of swim time early in the morning that is not ideal for most women students.”
Palermo said the union is currently in the stage of gathering information, which consists of surveys and petitions.
“Once we compile the data from all of the surveys we will bring that information to athletics and work with them to implement women’s only hours in the best way possible,” Palermo said.
York University and the University of Toronto have already implemented women-only gym times. York offers women-only fitness five hours per week.
The University of Toronto offers women-only hours in their strength and conditioning centre, as well as women-only swim times and swim lessons. Women-only pick-up sports are also offered to “ensure equitable participation in physical activity,” according to the university’s website.
Iffat Quayyum, a second-year math student at Ryerson, said she would benefit from RSU’s proposal.
“I think women time only would be great so girls can be comfortable while working out,” Quayyum said. “For religious women, it would be convenient because they can dress comfortably for the gym. For example, wear shorts or not wear their hijab.”
Leyan Saleh, a second-year sociology student at Ryerson, agreed.
“Due to the fact that I am a hijabi, I would feel much more comfortable if there were no men around while working out,” she said.
Saleh said she thinks it is unfair she is unable to opt out of gym fees.
“I’ve been paying for the gyms within my tuition but I haven’t been to the gym once,” Saleh said. “I haven’t been to the gym once, because it’s co-ed.”
At Carleton University there are no women-only gym times, but according to director of recreation and athletics Jennifer Brenning, Carleton has programs that accommodate women.
These programs include women-only recreational swim, women-only yoga, aqua-fit and swim lessons, women’s self defence, and several intramural leagues.
“We have not received any requests for women-only access to the fitness centre,” Brenning said. “If there is a high degree of interest as the room can accommodate up to 200 people at one time, we could consider.”
