“I haven’t been to the gym in so long, I didn’t know women just dress like whores now…There’s no other way to describe it,” said Shane Gillis during a recent appearance on Saturday Night Live. Unsurprisingly, this inflammatory statement has generated substantial backlash. As a woman and athlete who spends several hours a week in the gym, I had particularly strong opinions on Gillis’ attack on women.
My first issue is the implication that the way a woman dresses suggests something about her sexuality and morals. It suggests that women go to the gym not to become stronger, feel empowered, take care of their mental health, or prioritize their long-term health, but to sell their bodies, cater to the male gaze, and be objectified. As a woman, I resent that. Many women are already intimidated by the gym, as it is a largely male-dominated space. Women feel as though they don’t belong, and are fearful of being judged, ogled, or even assaulted. Gyms should be a safe space for everyone; a place where people can go to be uplifted and empowered, not shamed and lambasted. So while Gillis’ remark may have been intended as a “joke,” in reality, all he’s done is made the gym less inclusive and safe for women and exposed himself as a misogynist. Gillis’ following comment exacerbates and legitimizes women’s fears, as he goes on to say that he’s probably “…in the background of like 10 TikToks right now,” leering at women. What Gillis and any man who laughed at this disgusting sexism disguised as a joke needs to realize is that these comments and actions normalize the perception of women as sex objects that exist purely for male pleasure and consumption.
Gillis adds further insult to injury by describing women’s shorts as “these neon, like, artificial bait-colored shorts.” While this may seem like a relatively harmless simile, one cannot help but question what Gillis is insinuating. Comparing women’s shorts to fishing lures seems to suggest that women are “bait” for men to “catch” or prey upon.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the double standard of Gillis’ crack—men wear “revealing” outfits to the gym too. Many men wear stringers, spandex, short running shorts, and compression shirts. All of these clothing items are form fitting and showcase the male body. If women are wearing outfits to get attention from men and put their bodies on display, then men should have been included in Gillis’ critique of the fitness space. But of course, men and their clothing choices were absent from the conversation, because Gillis’ real problem isn’t with women’s clothing—it’s with women. His criticism exemplifies the sense of entitlement men feel they have over women and their bodies. In our patriarchal society, men feel not only able but encouraged to tell women what is and is not permissible to do, wear, and say. When men like Gillis feel unable to control women, they feel emasculated and inferior.
Perhaps the worst part of this controversy is that Gillis will go unpunished. As a wealthy, white, cisgender, heterosexual man, Gillis is largely immune to the wrath of cancel culture. Following the public onslaught, Gillis was not penalized in any way. Like many men before him, Gillis’ male privilege afforded him an immunity that marginalized peoples simply aren’t given. Like many men before him, the worst case scenario was that he would apologize and all would be forgiven. After all, that’s what happened back in 2019 when Gillis was fired from SNL due to video clips that resurfaced of Gillis using racial slurs. Amid this scandal, Gillis was both professionally and socially “canceled.” Yet, here he is again, hosting SNL just seven years later.
Contrary to what Gillis says, women choose their gym outfits based on functionality, comfort and style. They are not at home scheming what outfit will generate the most attention (or criticism) from men. Gillis’s skit perfectly encapsulates the double bind women often find themselves in – they can’t do anything right. Show up to the gym wearing spandex and a sports bra, and be called a whore, but wear sweatpants and a sweatshirt, and men will undoubtedly have something to say about that too. Men like Gillis have one motive driving their derogatory views of women: they want to control them. They believe that women exist solely for their pleasure and consumption, and as such, a woman who refuses to submit to their idea of correct behavior is a threat to their masculinity. So wear whatever you want to the gym, ladies, as it has far greater implications than you may imagine. It’s an act of defiance, of rebellion, of liberation.