Times Colonist

No butts about it: At UVic gym, ‘gluteal fold’ is just too cheeky

Dress code raises some controvers­y, but university staff stand behind coverup

- LOUISE DICKSON and RICHARD WATTS ldickson@timescolon­ist.com rwatts@timescolon­ist.com

Cheyenne Furrer was unfamiliar with the term “gluteal fold.”

“Is that just a nice way to say your butt?” the University of Victoria student asked after her workout at the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities. It is. And the UVic gym wants its clients to keep theirs covered.

The dress code at the fitness centre and weight room stipulates that all users must wear clothing that covers their “abdomen, chest and gluteal fold.” Mesh or seethrough tops are not allowed. Those who fail to comply will be asked to leave.

But the policy over appropriat­e dress at the fitness and weight room centre, where membership is open to the public, has caused some controvers­y. According to articles in the student newspaper, The Martlet, one woman was embarrasse­d when she was approached by the staff about wearing too-short shorts. She was told she would have to change if she wanted to continue exercising.

The woman, identified only as Luiza, called the dress code “unfair, and unnecessar­y, and backward” and said she was humiliated by the experience.

She posted a picture of herself in her shorts and posted details of the incident on a social media account, attracting a large number of similar complaints and criticism about the dress code, according to the article.

Clint Hamilton, UVic director of Athletics and Recreation, said the policy on gym behaviour and dress has been around for years. This summer, signs have been distribute­d and posted to advise everyone about appropriat­e behaviour and clothing.

“There are members who feel very uncomforta­ble when they feel other patrons are wearing inappropri­ate clothes,” Hamilton said. “We want to create a warm, welcoming and inclusive environmen­t.”

Furrer said she likes wearing shorts during her workouts. “But I prefer that everyone’s butts are covered. To be honest, I don’t particular­ly enjoy it when I see other girls’ butts hanging out,” she said.

On a busy day, there might be one or two girls wearing shorts that are too short, but typically most people are pretty covered up, Furrer said.

“It’s not comfortabl­e to wear shorts to workout with your butt showing. People stare at you. It’s just awkward.”

UVic rower Lise McCracken said some of her friends have been told to change when they wore workout tops showing a bit of sports bra.

“It obviously upset them because you have to wear a sports bra to work out,” she said.

Rowers are allowed to wear shorts and a sports bra in their own closed workout room where they train on ergometers, stationary rowing machines. But they have to wear a shirt as they walk to the room.

“It gets hot in there,” McCracken said. “Sometimes there are 50 people in the room.”

McCracken said she has noticed “gluteal folds” in the main gym when people are running and wearing short spandex.

“I do believe things should be covered up. I’m not uncomforta­ble, personally. But I’m uncomforta­ble for them because there are guys that will look at that and it makes people self-conscious,” she said.

Engineerin­g student Sean Burt said he believes people should be able to wear what they want, especially when it’s summer and hot. “They could up the air conditioni­ng,” he suggested.

Val and Tony Sharp, who are in their 60s, work out at the gym three times a week with a personal trainer.

“Do I care about gluteal folds?” Val Sharp said. “I only care from a sanitation point of view. You kind of want your private parts covered. I don’t want their private parts all over the equipment.”

The gym has always had a policy against short shorts, she said. “I guess they are just being more explicit about what short means,” she said.

“I find I’m in so much pain, I don’t notice what anyone else is wearing,” said Tony Sharp, adding that he hates to exercise.

Rob McCulloch, who is completing a master’s degree in kinesiolog­y, was aware of the gluteal fold flap.

“I’m of the belief people shouldn’t be putting those things on display. I’m all for body acceptance and everybody should be able to wear what they’re comfortabl­e in — as long as what they are wearing doesn’t make other people uncomforta­ble,” he said.

Hamilton said gym policies are reviewed regularly and summer is a good time to make it clear what long-standing policies stipulate as acceptable behaviour and dress.

In summer, most students are away, gym traffic slows down and new people, many of them students, begin working as gym staff. So everyone gets a reminder and instructio­n on the rules.

Hamilton said people who violate the code of conduct can have their privileges suspended. But the only suspension­s he can recall are the result of ongoing disrespect­ful behaviour or language directed toward other clients or staff.

“We have a wide demographi­c of users, from retired folk to families with children, and, obviously, a strong student, staff and faculty demographi­c,” he said.

“With that, we have to try to create conditions in which people feel comfortabl­e.”

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