Interview with Natalia Ramirez

00:02 This afternoon, we are with Maria Galdamez who is majoring in exercise and sports science. How are you, Maria

00:10 I'm fine, thank you. And you?

00:12 I'm good. Okay, so I am going to read to you a scenario, and based on that scenario, I will do some questions to you. So there is a man exercising in a gym, and a couple of women are looking at him in an arising way. He reports the ladies to the manager of the gym. When he comes back to the gym the next day, the people around is making fun of him because he's being molested by ladies, and he reported that incident. So based on that, do you think, is it fair for this man to be made fun of? Would it be fun if a woman was molested instead?

00:59 I don't think if a woman, if this happens to a woman, will be fun. I think it will seem as a serious problem. And I think just because it happens to a man, it turns into something funny or something that doesn't matter, don't have a lot of importance, but definitely it is something as real serious. Like in the same case, it happens to a woman or a man. It is the same situation.

01:25 Okay, so you think for both cases, it should be taken seriously?

01:31 Yeah.

01:31 Okay. So whether you think this man thinks it's his value as a man when it comes to this molestation he has experienced.

01:48 So I think men have the same feelings as women. And so because of that, obviously they will feel indignated.

01:59 Okay. So do you think, is there beauty beyond what we visually appreciate in this sport field? Because as we see most of the people in this field, they look good, they look healthy. So do you think it's beautiful beyond of what we see?

02:22 Definitely beauty. Well, there's, like, a lot of insights about what beauty really is. But for me, beauty goes beyond just how you look physically as well, how you are obviously inside.

02:35 Okay. Okay. So you already told me, what is beauty for you? So do you think, is beauty a physical predominance when it comes to sport careers? What do you think is the role of beauty in this field? What I think, what is the role of beauty in the sports field?

02:57 I think a lot of people actually have this wrong idea that exercise in sports science is used to look good when it goes more into your health. So it goes inside you. Right?

03:10 Like, it's not like your feelings and the way you think.

03:13 Yeah, the way you feel. Exactly. And so how you feel and how you are inside is gonna reflect outside.

03:20 Okay, so you think that beauty will be the subject for molestation? If so, why because what is the difference if there is one between beauty in a man, in a beauty in a woman?

03:37 So, yeah, I think beauty can play a role into, like, if someone's going to osticate other because, well, you know, like, okay, so when someone looks good or is handsome, they get more probability to get molested.

03:59 Okay, so as we see here, the thing that this manager had to do was to. To do some kind of report or stop what these ladies did, like apprehend them in some way. But the next day, this man was made fun of. So what do you think is the integrity of the manager?

04:28 So he. I think he's bad. He's not taking, obviously, the problem serious, because how society has this idea that just woman can be molested. And so he's just unfair.

04:44 Okay. Okay. So you talked about how society has this concept of having women molested more than men. More than men are molested. So what do you think are some of the learning that not only as an individual, but as a society, we can gain from situations where these kind of situations take place? But for example, this man was molested and was something fun for the society and the people in the gym. But how do you think that really, why do you think that is considered normal or something? Nothing serious.

05:30 Well, in this society nowadays, it's considered normal to like, well, we can learn that of how the society has been built, how men are not taken serious, and how they are not treated equally in these. In these kind of like, scenarios as women.

05:53 And why do you think is that? Why do you think women, I mean, men are not considered that seriously as women are in these kind of situations?

06:03 I think it's because women have more like has. They tend to present more these type of cases like being molested.

06:16 And what if the situation was that also men really have the situation, but they don't really say it because of the. Because they are afraid of being, you know, make fun of.

06:31 If they don't say anything, then this is gonna happen. They are gonna think that women are the only ones that, like, in a higher, I don't know, number are molested. And so that's why men are not gonna be taken seriously.

06:44 Yeah. Do you think, like, society should do something about it to make men feel comfortable and safe as to share if they have experienced these kind of things?

06:56 Yes, definitely. Okay. So I think one way could be to let no men that this is something that can happen to them and that is totally like, that doesn't make them less menta, you know, or that. Yeah. If a lady or a girl do something to them, they have the right to say something. And that doesn't make them less.

07:19 Okay. Yeah, I think this happens because some men wouldn't say anything about molestation because they may feel with their manhood, so they don't want to show that to society that they are weak in some sort. So, yeah, I agree with that. And the next question is, what has led to the idea that men do not experience molestation? Like, maybe. Probably they have, but as we said, why do you think it is not that well known?

08:00 I think because men struggle trying to identify if they have been molested or not. Like they. I think they struggle identifying if they have, like, this kind of situation or not because of how the society is and because, like, maybe it doesn't take as serious. Like, if a woman touched them, for example, they might not see it as bad as it was, like, opposite.

08:26 Okay, yeah. You think it is like they don't recognize that thing because it's something mainly for a woman, something that happens mainly to a woman.

08:35 Exactly. How, like, the society has put everything.

08:39 Okay, so coming to this side of, let's say, religious, do you think. Do you believe it was in God's intention to create the man as a superior being and then because of that superiority being related to the basic empathy from society when they see themselves in a molestation situation?

09:12 So I think. I think God doesn't create man as superior, even though he was created first. But it is more like how society has, I don't know, create circumstances and. Yeah, like, so, yeah, as I was saying previously, of how society has real circumstances, men doesn't feel the necessity to show their vulnerability.

09:49 So in these times, we are fighting for women's rights as well. We are fighting to get women equal rights as men do. Right, but. And that's because of how this system has been built. But as man has been considered superior to women, do you think that makes them by default consider aside from those feelings of molestation or horizon?

10:34 No, because they are human and they have feelings. And just because they are superior doesn't neglect that they have feelings and that they. Yeah, they can experience the same as a woman.

10:47 Okay, so as we said, maybe some men in society doesn't take molestations towards men so seriously. But how do you think that really is? Do you think that exists or happens often or not?

11:13 Yes, I think it definitely exists. Of how I say previously now something in common, that men doesn't share their vulnerable vulnerability or that they don't feel the necessity to say something happened. Something like that happens to them, but yeah, something true and it's something that happened.

11:33 Okay, so. So what would you say is the truth side of molestation? Looking at it from a gender perspective, do you think it only covers the side of woman or it applies to men as well?

11:56 It applies to both genders. Like, not because they are men. It doesn't. Like, it doesn't change that they are humans and they have feelings and they can experience the same as a woman.

12:09 Okay, so this question, I think is very important. And it not only applies to the sports field, but also in general. I don't know if you have heard some people that think that some. That women or men are molested because of the way they dress or how they move. So what have you experienced any molestation from because of the way you dress or the exercises you do?

12:44 I experience myself sometimes. Like really? Like, I think one is one a case in which someone was looking at me, but I say something about the situation and, yeah, I changed that. But I have been told, like other girls as well, that being how you say it, observated.

13:09 Okay, so have you heard or have you seen any situation where a man is being molested? Or have. Maybe the man doesn't complain about it or doesn't report that event, but you have. Have you seen, like a woman looking too many now bars away or something like that?

13:32 Yes, I have been seeing, like a woman looking at men in like a. No. Respectful way, but as well, other men's looking at other men's.

13:42 Okay.

13:43 Yeah. Like in both cases. And I think. Yeah, like men take it like less like a. Like it's not serious problem, but yeah, I definitely.

13:53 Okay, so coming back to the same question, do you think one should change the exercise movements one does to avoid being molested?

14:07 No, because. I don't know, like, it's like this applies, like kind of the same. No, because of what you. It's not your fault of what you are. Are wearing and as well know what are you doing if not the other person's integrity. And so you shouldn't change your exercises just because of that. I think you should have the courage to say something about the situation and change that. But yeah, like, changing exercise or a movement shouldn't be an option.

14:41 Okay, another question is, do you think women are respected in the same. In the same way as men are?

14:54 Yes. Something that I like about this field is that kind of like respectfulness. I think here, like, every client's respect, if, like, if a woman or is a man, they know like, they have knowledge and they trust on them and. Yeah, a lot of people get intimidated about gyms and it's something. In reality, gyms have a really welcoming environment.

15:23 Okay. So you, in your career, you want to do, you will do something like coaching people. Right. Doing exercise and that kind of stuff, I imagine.

15:34 Yeah.

15:35 So do you think a coach or a trainer is, can refuse to train someone when they feel harassed by their client?

15:47 Yes. Obviously, you shouldn't be forced to do anything you don't want to and less in those kind of situations. So, yeah, if, like a client, it's been like doing respectful things to a coach or a trainer, they can totally refuse to continue training them.

16:06 Okay. And what about the other way around? Do you think clients should have. Have like a protection from the gym or should be like a policy from the gym to protect them in case that an instructor is harassing them?

16:24 Yes, yes, definitely. I. I think they should have, like, there should be a place in which a client can report that, those kind of behaviors because I think that's not something that needs to be normalized.

16:41 Okay. Yeah, for sure. Because in this scenario I just read to you, I mean, this man reported these ladies, but nothing happened. Maybe they have the place, but what about if they don't do anything about that report and make fun of the client?

16:58 Yeah, I think that's why it should be like a specific place and not just the manager of the game, like, because, well, that in fact should be the job of the manager to make sure that everything is working good and correctly. Like, everyone's behavior is good, but if he doesn't make his job and he doesn't have integrity, then there should be a place in which they can make sure that these kind of things are taken seriously.

17:24 Okay, so there is this question. In some countries, there is a big issue of justice towards women that have been molested, raped and killed or killed. There are like a lot of cases like this one. And of course, this goes beyond the athletic field. So if it is already a problem to get justice for, do you think it is difficult for violated men to get justice as well?

18:01 Yes, I think it can be because number one of what we said, like, they, for them is harder to identify this thing happened or not. They can. Yeah, definitely think that it was something that they wanted or that, you know, they may. They might not feel like they. That this is a problem and then because. Because of how society is, they will, like, maybe see, think that the woman is a victim and not the man.

18:33 Okay. Yeah, it does. So how do I mean, what I said, like, because of how society is as well may hinder men reporting these kind of things, but it's kind. Don't you. Don't you think it's kind of weird because men are the superior race or genre for a per se? So if they have power for most of the things, why are they. Why do you think they will found demonstrations something difficult to solve or get justice for if they are the predominant genre?

19:18 I think for two reasons. Number one is because of how everything has happened in that the cases of the woman has been the ones that are the most presented. And then. And then, because if they are superior, they, if they feel superior, they might have the, like the ego.

19:43 I don't know.

19:45 Ego. Yeah.

19:47 Okay, so do you think how could race also play a role in molestation?

19:59 Okay, so, yes, I think it can contribute into a sedation because there's people that doesn't like other races, I guess. And they will most probably do something about the other person, I guess.

20:25 Okay, so as we said, you think race can play a role, right, in molestation. But how do you think justice can be applied then, when there are. When race plays a role when it comes to molestation?

20:45 Justice, I think justice should. There should be a way in which society makes people, can make people aware of what compliment is and what a respectful compliment is. And so justice can be applied because there are some races in which some really no respectful compliments can be seen as something normal. And so maybe they are just not aware, but there should be a way in which they teach these people what is right and what is not right.

21:26 So what you are saying is like educate the society to distinguish between what is a compliment and what is a harassment. Okay.

21:38 Yeah.

21:39 Well, to this point we have focus in how this man has been molested by the ladies. But how do you think the manager could have reacted if the woman were the ones that reported these men have?

22:01 I think the situation will be taken so like really different and more. More serious. And so the manager will report the men who were obviously arising the woman and they will definitely not make fun of her.

22:17 Okay. Okay. So we talked about how molestation can be taken not that seriously when it comes to men. But do you think there are other topics or other areas where men are not considered, like seriously? Because we have seen equality between generals, between men and women. But do you think there are other areas where men are not taken seriously?

22:51 I think yes. And like a lot of things have been changed, but for example, maybe they were not used to be the ones who were like, in a fashion field or stuff like that. But nowadays as well, it can be like relationships. They are the ones who supposed not to show their feelings because they are strong or they are, you know, they are manhood. And so that's what you see in movies or something like that. They follow that pattern. And also when they protest against, like, like, well, not against, but the words women strike. Yeah. In the world, women's rights, they will maybe not be taken seriously because they are men.

23:43 Okay. Okay. Thank you so much for your time.