
My recent experience at LA Fitness reveals the pervasive misandry and gendered policing of men in American society todayāa system where menās actions are judged not by their intentions, but by the subjective emotional responses of others, with no room for context or fairness.
Hereās what happened: I gave a polite, kind compliment to a woman at the gym. My gesture was non-intrusive, respectful, and entirely within the bounds of normal human interaction. Yet, this individual found it āuncomfortableā enough to report me to the staff, who improperly labeled my words as "harassment."
What followed was an outright show of hostility and overreach by LA Fitness staff. They:
Escalated the situation unnecessarily, sending eight men to follow me into the bathroom and even recording me in the locker roomāa blatant invasion of privacy and violation of decency.
Attempted to intimidate me into returning to the front desk so they could document my account as though I had committed a heinous act, all while ignoring the lack of evidence for their accusations.
This type of behavior reflects a deeply ingrained anti-male bias that dominates modern culture. Men are not judged on their actual actions or intentions but on the subjective, often exaggerated, emotional responses of others.
The Gendered Police State: Misandry Masquerading as Safety
In todayās climate, it has become socially acceptable to vilify men for expressing romantic interest, even in the most respectful and harmless ways. The underlying assumption is that:
All male attention is inherently predatory unless proven otherwise.
A man expressing interest or giving a compliment is not viewed as human connection but as a potential threat.
The word āharassmentā is used indiscriminately, stripped of its actual meaning, and applied to any interaction that someone finds inconvenient or uncomfortableāregardless of intent.
At its core, this phenomenon is not about safetyāitās about power dynamics and cultural bias.
The Role of Subjectivity and Cultural Conditioning
The problem lies in how subjective feelings are weaponized against men. In this instance, my actions were polite, brief, and harmless. Yet, this individualās personal discomfortāa subjective, emotional reactionāwas treated as absolute evidence of wrongdoing.
This is the crux of the issue: ā Society has conditioned women to interpret male attention as inherently problematic, regardless of context or intention. ā Institutions like LA Fitness enforce double standards, where womenās comfort is prioritized over menās dignity and autonomy. ā Men are forced to walk on eggshells, constantly afraid of being labeled as predators for merely existing in public spaces.
This cultural paranoia stifles healthy human interaction, creates unnecessary hostility, and isolates men who genuinely seek connection or basic social engagement.
Broader Implications for Society
This incident isnāt just about meāitās a reflection of a larger epidemic within our culture:
Menās Intentions Are Dismissed No effort was made to understand my side or investigate whether my actions were inappropriate. Instead, the situation was escalated based solely on another personās feelings. This dynamic denies men the benefit of the doubt and creates an environment of constant suspicion.
The Dehumanization of Male Attention Male expressions of interestāromantic, friendly, or otherwiseāare demonized, forcing men into silence and loneliness. When a simple compliment is met with hostility, how can we foster genuine connections?
Institutional Bias and Overreach The behavior of LA Fitness staff exemplifies the institutionalization of anti-male prejudice. Their disproportionate responseāsending multiple men to follow and record meāillustrates how societal systems punish men disproportionately, even when no harm...
Ā Ā Ā Read moreThis review is regarding the personal training manager, Hugo Estrada. I called LA fitness Fremont to inquire about personal training. The associate I spoke to on the phone said the contract is on a month to month basis, that I can work with multiple trainers and that my fitness goals would be assessed before pairing me with the right trainer. The day before I was supposed to have my first session I was informed that I was already assigned a trainer, which I was okay with for the first session. After my training session, Hugo told me that we'd sign the contract and looked at the assessment the assigned personal trainer took of me. Hugo immediately reprimanded the trainer in front of me and send us back to the floor to do what was missing. Afterwards, Hugo sat down with me to sign the contract. Before signing I wanted to confirm that it was for a month to month basis. Hugo immediately said that a month to month contract is absurd and the contract is for 3 months at least. I told him that the information provided over the phone was different from what he was offering me and he said that the associate that spoke to me was not trained in the personal training department and should not have told me that. I then asked if I can try different trainers to see who I work best with. He then said that I can try working with two different trainers and would have to decide on one by the following week. I once again mentioned that this is not what I was told and he said that that is how it works. He tried to push me to sign on for a 3 month contract and when he saw I was not going to budge he tore up the contract in front of me. So unprofessional. This guy should not work with the public. I then inquired at the Monterey Park LA fitness and they were willing to offer me what I was originally promised over the phone. I felt offended by Hugo's passive aggressive behavior and his lack of knowledge on how to deal...
Ā Ā Ā Read moreThis LA Fitness in Fremont shows a complete lack of care and professionalism, especially toward seniors or anyone who doesnāt speak English fluently. My mother came in simply wanting to sign up for a short gym membership, but the staff made no effort to translate or help her understand the terms of what she was signing. As a result, she was unknowingly signed up for two months instead of one.
When we realized the misunderstanding and asked for a refund just a few days past their short cancellation window, the staff refused to help. We spoke with multiple employees, including Genesis, Sal, and Kathy, and were all told the same thing: āShe signed the agreement, thereās nothing we can do.ā Not one person showed empathy or made any attempt to escalate the issue properly.
To make things worse, my mother has medical issues that make it difficult for her to access the gym safely, and yet the staff showed no concern or flexibility. They treated her situation as if it didnāt matter.
We were told a manager named Kiran might call back, but instead, they suggested calling the member service line ourselves. It was a complete waste of time and showed how little they value their customers.
This location needs serious training on how to treat people with respect and compassion. They do not care about seniors, non-English speakers, or anyone with medical needs. If you or your loved ones arenāt fluent in English, do not come here. This gym will take your money without care, understanding, or basic...
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