‘I haven’t been to the gym in so long. I didn’t know women dressed like whores now.’
No, this isn’t a quote from a conversation overheard at the pub in 1959, or from a deleted Wolf of Wall Street scene.
But rather, they’re the words of ‘comedian’, Shane Gillis, spoken last weekend on Saturday Night Live, one of the most widely viewed TV shows in America.
Despite groans from the audience, Gillis doubled down. ‘There’s no other way to describe — have you seen it? I’ve seen it. The shorts. Have you seen the shorts?’
So to sum up: it’s 2026, and not only are men still calling women whores, we’re being branded as such, because of what we wear.
Yes, Gillis is a comedian, but ‘it’s just a joke’ isn’t a good enough defence this time. Where’s the punchline? Jokes are meant to be funny.
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The words cut particularly deep for those women who are the butt of this particular joke.
I’m one of them. I wear shorts to exercise in. Why? Because I want to.
It’s also because, as a runner, I don’t want to overheat in 30°C heat, and because it’s more pleasant not to be wearing sweaty fabric.
Oh, and I like how I look in them. So sue me.
But Gillis’ comments are a clear example of what we already know: that women avoid exercise for fear of judgement, intimidation, and harassment.
This year, new research from Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign found 86% of women aged 16 to 34 reported experiencing at least one form of physical, verbal, non-verbal or online harassment or intimidation in a fitness or leisure centre in the last three years.
It’s also worth mentioning that we’re entering a time of year when exercise becomes even more difficult for women.
Data from This Girl Can found 72% of us change our outdoor activity routines during winter.
And spoiler: it’s not women we’re nervous about bumping into in a dimly-lit park.
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‘I’m a PT and I feel self-conscious at the gym’
Megan Joy McDermott, 34, is a PT and coach. She also competes in CrossFit, meaning she works out between five and nine times per week.
‘I love exercising because it makes me feel strong and powerful,’ the mum-of-one tells Metro.
‘Tackling a difficult task inside the gym, makes me feel like I can do that outside of it too.
‘That’s been clear as I’ve gone through motherhood, as I’ve handled moving around the world, and career shifts.’
But despite her love for fitness, Megan knows how vulnerable it can feel to go to the gym as a woman.
‘Even as someone that’s been in competitive sport their entire life, I definitely feel self-conscious,’ Megan says.
‘A few years ago, I felt nervous to even wear a tank top. People would look at me and comment on my body, saying I was “muscly” or “big”.
‘One person even asked if I was trying to “encourage body positivity” because I’m not super small.
‘I know men who rock up in basically their pyjamas, or take their shirt off completely, and there’s no judgement whatsoever.’
Megan admits that even now, she doesn’t always feel comfortable wearing shorts. But as a PT, she chose to lead by example, saying ‘exposure therapy’ helped her become more confident.
She continues: ‘I thought that, if by wearing a tank top, shorts or brightly coloured clothes, it might help someone else feel comfortable enough to show up, then it’s worth it.’
And, she stresses that Gillis’ comments are not representative of the entire health and fitness industry.
She adds: ‘One stupid man made a stupid comment. It’s inexperienced, shallow, and that’s not actually what the industry is like.
‘Men like him are a minority in the fitness space.
‘What people wear in the gym is the least impressive thing.
‘It’s more the fact that they’re there and trying super hard to better themselves, inside and out.’
Megan’s advice? ‘Wear the damn shorts.’
She concludes: ‘Health and fitness is for our longevity, it’s for stronger bones, longer lives, to pick up our kids, to run after them, to be able to do cool things.
‘You can wear whatever you want.’
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