Why Are We Still Talking About What Women Wear?

Over the last few week or so you may have heard some chat about a recent Newstalk segment. Host Andrea Gilligan invited multiple fitness instructors and gym owners on air to discuss their thoughts on a recent article published by The Times UK.

The article was written by Robert Crampton who discussed how he feels uncomfortable in his gym as many of the young women are wearing revealing clothing stating, “I’m in the gym with semi-clad young women. Where do I look?”, as apparently his eyes automatically go to women’s bodies.

The article, rightfully so, caused outrage due to Robert’s insensitive and misogynistic view point. Andrea used the article as a talking point to see how people who are regularly in gym settings feel about how women dress in the space. It’s concerning and crazy in itself that this is even a topic of conversation in 2025. But the segment began to gain a lot of attention on social media platforms when owner of Body Byrne gym, Paul Byrne, shared his outrageous opinion.

When asked by Andrea if gyms have rules about clothing nowadays Paul responded with a long breasted statement: “No they don’t actually but over the last few years, it was never really an issue in the fitness industry. But over the last few years when social media came in and a lot of people are filming themselves, the scantily clothing has boomed […] there’s a lot of young girls, I think, wearing bikinis when they’re working out now.”

@alyssaflood_ distracting & intimidating is not what i’d call it. more like sweating buckets #gym #crossfit #gymattire #newstalk #livelaughlove #fyp #gymoutfit #bikini #dublin #personaltrainer ♬ original sound – Newstalk

Andrea challenged Paul’s comment by saying, “But not actual bikinis though?” Paul replied, “No, workout bikinis, it can be very intimidating in the gym as well, it’s practically narcissism is what it is. Someone has a great six pack and young girls have some amazing shaped bodies and they’re just showing them off basically. They should cover it up a little bit you know?”

The public, mainly women, were appalled at the statement that Paul made, especially seeing as he is a gym owner. By saying that women who wear comfortable gym clothing are “intimidating” to a grown man is a major double standard. For years men have dominated gym spaces and feel free to roam public areas shirtless or in tight tank tops, and although a tall muscular man may seem intimidating to young girls, there has never been discourse of women commenting on what men choose to wear in gym settings.

Andrea then brought fitness instructor and content creator Nathalie Lennon on air to share her opinions on The Times article however, Nathalie chose to respond to the earlier remarks made by Paul. Andrea began by asking Nathalie if she agreed gym clothing had changed over the years, “It has changed dramatically and I completely agree with that but I think it’s crazy to say that they are pretty much bikinis and that it’s borderline narcissism,” she said.

@kate_oconnell

Hope this man is okay ❤️

♬ original sound – Newstalk

“For years women were told to be skinny and now we’re embracing strength, muscle and we’re being shamed again?” she continued. “Like, we should be allowed to feel empowered, not policed. To blame a woman for someone else’s distraction, it’s outdated and it’s problematic and it’s an issue on them if they can’t manage their distractions. It’s not our responsibility to fix it with regards to what we wear.”

Women’s bodies and clothing should never be a topic of conversation, especially by men who use their platforms to spread misogynistic and outdated opinions. Why is it that when a woman is proud of her body that she’s worked hard for it’s automatically “narcissism” if she wants to show it off? Why can’t a woman wear what she is most comfortable in when she works out?

Why was the topic of young men wearing tight shirts to show off their physiques not brought into the conversation? And why are we normalising grown men discussing how they are “distracted” by young women’s bodies?

Women will continue to take up space in gym settings, women will continue to show off their progress if they choose to, and women will continue to wear whatever they want.