CrossFit and Women
Over the past four years CrossFit has emerged as one of the most intense and innovative workouts out there. The movements in a typical CrossFit workout can range anywhere from box jumps, Olympic lifting, rope climbs, running, burpees, and pull-ups. It has gained a dedicated following of athletes worldwide. This past spring about 74,000 men and 47,000 women competed world wide in the CrossFit Open, a prequalifier for the CrossFit Regionals and the CrossFit Games. With a family-like atmosphere at every gym and so many women competing alongside men on a daily basis, you’d expect a high rate of gender equality; but in a man dominated society this just isn’t the case.
One of the very first things I noticed after starting CrossFit were the names of the benchmark workouts. Benchmark workouts are randomly done throughout the year and are designed to measure results and performance gains. For example, one famous benchmark workout is called Fran (21-15-19 thrusters and pull-ups). They are an integral part of the CrossFit program and culture. There are two kinds of benchmarks workouts: “the girls” and “the heroes”. The workouts that fall under “the girls” are not any harder or easier than the ones that fall under “the heroes.” Where the issue lies is in the name of each category. One category depicts a young, immature female child and the other category, a person, typically a man, who is admired for courage or noble qualities. Just like everywhere else in society, sexism is alive and thriving within the Crossfit world
One of the very first things I noticed after starting CrossFit were the names of the benchmark workouts. Benchmark workouts are randomly done throughout the year and are designed to measure results and performance gains. For example, one famous benchmark workout is called Fran (21-15-19 thrusters and pull-ups). They are an integral part of the CrossFit program and culture. There are two kinds of benchmarks workouts: “the girls” and “the heroes”. The workouts that fall under “the girls” are not any harder or easier than the ones that fall under “the heroes.” Where the issue lies is in the name of each category. One category depicts a young, immature female child and the other category, a person, typically a man, who is admired for courage or noble qualities. Just like everywhere else in society, sexism is alive and thriving within the Crossfit world