We need to stop patronising women and older people in lifting
They don't want it, and they don't need it. In recent meets in different federations, I have noticed bad lifts get passed. Shallow squats, hitched deadlifts and so on. I see the same with personal trainers at commercial gyms, loading weight on the bar their clients can't handle and then congratulating them for a job well done. Crossfit has made the shitty lift followed by a backslap famous, but it was around before them.
"Good girl!" Fuck off. She's 40 years old, not 4. Stick to, "Well done," or "good effort, now here's what you have to fix."
People need encouragement, they don't need bullshit. We need to be strict with our lifters in training and competition. Yes, even if they're from some under-represented group like women or older lifters.
Nobody is going to quit because you redlighted their lift, they go away and cry or swear and then come back and do it properly next time. They have to lift with good form over a full range of motion. This will make them better lifters and get better results.
We don't need to write articles telling women or older people why they should lift. We don't need special persuasive tactics to deal with objections. They know as well anyone does. Just talk to them as people, don't assume you have to convince them because of what's in their pants or how many rings in the tree. Stronger is better.
Yes, there are differences in where you start and how many reps you do and how quickly you progress, but as Mark Rippetoe has said, "shit's just complicated... except, you gotta squat." Fundamental human movements are fundamental.
We need to treat EVERYONE seriously as trainees and athletes. This is what they want and deserve.
