Redditors debate after man questions why senior citizens are allowed in women-only zones at ActiveSG gyms

SINGAPORE: A video of a man questioning the purpose of women-only zones in ActiveSG gyms, where senior citizens are also allowed to enter, has sparked debate on Reddit.

The video, shared on the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit on 29 October, shows the man commenting on the inclusivity of certain gym spaces.

He noted that some ActiveSG facilities with women-only zones also allow senior citizens to enter.

“You know there are some ActiveSG gyms that have a women’s-only zone. Well, it’s not really a women-only zone because I think seniors can go in also,” he said.

He then imagined a scenario in which, as an elderly man, he could “technically enter this zone and look at all these ladies working out,” questioning whether that defeated the purpose of such spaces.

“Isn’t that a bit weird? Like, the whole point of having a women’s-only zone is so that women won’t feel like they are being looked at or judged, right? Then you let seniors share the same zone.”

He added, “I tell you, any man can be a cheekopek no matter what age they are.”

Mixed Reactions from Netizens

The Reddit post drew mixed responses from users. While some felt the man raised a valid concern about privacy and safety, others criticised him for over-analysing a situation that did not directly involve him.

One user commented, “I am concerned that this guy made a video of something that doesn’t involve him at all, purely out of his own speculation — and most likely projection.”

Some users suggesting that the man was projecting his own thoughts.

“Judging by the number of people here getting caught upskirting or taking voyeur videos, I’m not surprised that there are individuals like this guy with dirty thoughts. He has probably seriously thought about doing something,” one commenter wrote.

Another user criticised the man’s approach, saying, “Kind of sad that a youngster would think this way of his father, uncles, grandfather, and granduncles. Wouldn’t it be better if he suggested having a separate zone just for seniors? Maybe that will spur him to think deeply about resource constraints and what is being done to tackle this problem ever since the rise of human civilisation.”

The user added that the younger generation should “think deeper into problems rather than looking at issues superficially.”

Another user defended the man, saying most people who ogle fit his description and that he never mentioned his father or uncles.

The commenter also argued that creating more gym zones would be impractical, noting that ActiveSG gyms already consist of “about 50% seniors, 35% gym bros, 10% casuals, and 5% women.”

Establishing separate zones for each demographic, the user said, would be unrealistic given space and resource constraints.

The user added that while youths should step up, they currently have little say or power to influence such issues.

One user agreed that the man was not wrong in the premise of his argument, explaining that many women have experienced uncomfortable situations where older men stared at them inappropriately.

“I had a friend who couldn’t even sit down at a restaurant and enjoy her meal without some old man approaching her to buy a drink,” the user said.

The user also questioned why senior citizens are included in the inclusive zone.

“Is it because they worry that their fragile egos would get bruised seeing someone curl their squat weight? Or are they lumping all the ‘weak’ people in one zone? So, are women weak?” the user asked.