I'm sure the second word of this post's title was a big draw for many readers. So before I go any further and disappointment too many people, let me rephrase it. Does the gender of a trainer matter? I'm asking because I've noticed in some ads that, supposedly, females should only be trained by females. I'd guess there might be some male trainers that would suggest that only men should work with a male trainer, but it's much more often the opposite. Either way, I disagree.

Let's start by me asking, what's the difference between a male biceps muscle and a female biceps muscle? What about a man's gastrocnemius compared to a woman's? Refer to any reputable anatomy reference guide and you hopefully won't be surprised to find out that there isn't any. Apparently some 'fitness professionals' would have you believe that a woman knows more about training the female physique better than any male. Hmm. That's makes me wonder about their background. If they have a degree, were all of their exercise physiology professors female? And if so, was all of the research they studied conducted only by female exercise scientists? I seriously doubt it. The same would apply to their certifications. There are continuing education courses, and specialty certifications that are all about learning about female anatomy and physiology, but any worthwhile personal training certification will cover these issues.

This isn't gynecology. For that, it's more understandable why a women would prefer a female over a male. And even then, a study showed that for 37% of women surveyed, it doesn't matter if it's a male or female. Like anything else, the first question should be "Are they good?"
 
I'm not saying there are no differences between training men and women. Even all men don't train, or should be trained exactly the same. What I take issue with is having a trainer of the opposite sex make a statement suggesting that I'm an inferior trainer based on my gender. Just because I'm a man does not mean that I would have zero knowledge or understanding of female physiology, and how it differs from a male's. And it certainly doesn't mean I would have no interest in learning about the subject. I'm unable to get pregnant, but does that mean I'm not qualified to work with a pre or postnatal female? No. As a matter of fact, I've successfully trained clients during this exciting period of their lives. But according to some, a female trainer, who has never been pregnant, and has no experience working with pregnant women, or brand new moms, would still be better suited for training a pre or postnatal female than I am.

I can fully understand the preference being based on comfort. I can understand the desire of some women to want to exercise in women's only facilities. I don't understand the reasoning of a female being trained by a female just because they are of the same gender. That's like saying overweight people should seek out trainers who used to be overweight, because they've been there and they can relate. What is comes down to is qualifications and rapport. Sure, some women will bond better with a female trainer, be more comfortable, and adhere better to a program than compared to working with a guy. And there are certainly trainers that have their preference of working with one sex over the other. I've got no problem with that. But, a good trainer, male or female, will know and understand the differences between working with men and women, and that difference has least to do with the muscular system. So, folks, don't be fooled into thinking that if you're a woman, working with a male trainer will lead to you looking like a man.

What's your take on this? Would you choose a trainer, or any other professional based solely on their gender? Leave a comment. I'd like to know.

Biceps photo courtesy of flickr.com/photos/petechons

Buffies photo courtesy of picasaweb.google.com/areaorion