A woman was allegedly told to cover up at a gym because there were “married men” present.
Poliana Frigi took to social media on Tuesday (24 Mar) to recount the humiliating experience.
“I was wearing a sports bra from a well-known fitness brand, and the receptionist asked if I was wearing a bra,” she said.
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“I immediately explained it was a sports bra, showed her the logo and the fabric, and she said some people had complained because the strap was too thin.
“She asked if I had a T-shirt to put on, something to cover up, because there are married men here and it wouldn’t look right for me, especially for my own safety.
“I was in shock. I said I didn’t have a T-shirt and wouldn’t put one on, because I was wearing a sports bra.”
Poliana, who works as an engineer, said that after the exchange, which took place over the weekend, she began feeling uncomfortable during her workout.
She said: “I started looking at myself in the mirror and thinking: am I wearing a small sports bra? Is something showing? I began to feel bad.”
She returned to the reception with her boyfriend to confront the receptionist, as reported by Need To Know.
She asked to speak to the manager, but the receptionist refused to give her his number and claimed her intervention was in line with the gym’s policies.
Poliana said: “I left stressed, not wanting to come back ever again.
“How far are they going to go in policing women’s clothing?
“Regardless of what I was wearing, I had a normal gym sports bra.
“It seems the problem is always the woman, not the environment or other people’s behaviour.”
Poliana has not reported the case to the police but is consulting a lawyer to decide how to proceed.
According to legal experts, both the receptionist and the gym could be liable for illegal harassment charges.
Lawyer Raquel Marcondes told local media: “A gym is a private space and can have rules, but they need to be in the contract and informed beforehand.
“If there’s no such provision, and someone is wearing ordinary gym attire, it’s unreasonable to demand a clothing change.”
In a statement, John Boy Academia in São José dos Campos, Brazil, said it “has taken note of recent reports” and that an internal investigation was underway.
It added: “We remain firm in our commitment to continuously improve our processes, always prioritising the well-being and respect of our members.”
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