Celebrating Women’s History Month and the Progress of Women’s Health
In the 1950s, seeing a woman working out in a gym was unusual. Exercise programs for women existed, but they often focused less on health and strength, and more on maintaining a certain “figure.” Many workouts involved light calisthenics, posture exercises, or gentle movements designed to preserve femininity rather than build physical capability.
Looking back today, those routines may seem outdated, but they were still important. They marked the beginning of something bigger: women stepping into the world of structured exercise, organized workouts, and eventually the modern fitness movement.
This Women’s History Month, it’s worth reflecting on how far women’s health and fitness have come, and the stepping stones that helped get us here.
The 1950s–1960s: The First Door Opens
In the mid-20th century, exercise for women was still limited by cultural beliefs. Strength training and intense physical activity were often considered masculine pursuits, and many women were encouraged to focus on grace, posture, and slimness instead of athletic performance.
[Janet Leigh featured in Photoplay Magazine, July 1955]
Fitness culture existed, but it looked very different from today’s gyms. Women’s workouts frequently involved light calisthenics, stretching routines, and “figure-shaping” exercises meant to maintain a slim silhouette. The broader fitness industry was still largely male-dominated.
The 1970s: Fitness Becomes a Movement
By the 1970s, fitness was becoming more accessible to the general public. Jogging clubs, health clubs, and group exercise programs began appearing across the United States, helping transform exercise into a mainstream lifestyle rather than something reserved for athletes.
This era also coincided with the broader women’s movement. As opportunities in sports and recreation expanded, more women entered gyms, participated in
organized exercise, and embraced physical activity as part of personal empowerment. [Commonwealth gold-BBC Archive: Originally broadcast December 1971]
Dance-inspired fitness programs like Jazzercise started popping up across the country. These classes combined music, cardio, and community, creating an environment where women could work out together in a supportive space.
The 1980s: The Aerobics Boom
This decade saw the explosion of aerobics classes, group fitness programs, and home workout videos. The most influential moment came in 1982 when Jane
Fonda released her iconic workout video, which helped launch a global fitness craze.
Fonda’s videos sold millions of copies and helped make exercise accessible to women everywhere, whether they were in a gym or working out in their living room. [Jane Fonda poses for a portrait circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California]
Suddenly fitness was everywhere:
- Aerobics classes
-
VHS workout tapes
- Group fitness studios
- Bright leggings and leg warmers
More importantly, women were embracing movement in huge numbers. For the first time, fitness culture felt widely inclusive and energetic.
While the aesthetic ideal promoted during this era was still narrow (lean, toned, and often thin), the cultural shift was undeniable.
The 1990s–Early 2000s: Diet Culture Takes the Lead
As the fitness industry grew, so did a new challenge. The 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise of intense diet culture. Fitness messaging often emphasized weight loss, calorie burning, and shrinking the body rather than building strength or long-term health. [SlimFast promotional media archive https://www.ispot.tv/product/Am4]
Cardio machines dominated gyms. Low-fat dieting became mainstream. Magazines and advertising frequently promoted unrealistic standards for what a “fit” body should look like. We had the knowledge, now it was time to turn"fit" into achievable and healthy.
Today: Strength, Nourishment, and Knowledge
Over the past decade, women’s fitness has undergone one of its biggest shifts yet. Today, the conversation looks very different.
Instead of chasing a single body type, many women are focusing on:
- Strength training
- Building muscle
- Proper fueling and recovery
- Hormone-informed training
- Long-term health and performance
Weightlifting, once considered unusual for women, is now widely recognized as one of the most effective ways to support metabolic health, bone density, and physical resilience. The modern fitness industry is also benefiting from more research and education focused specifically on women’s health. Information about training cycles, hormonal health, and nutrition is more accessible than ever before.
Fueling the Next Generation of Strength
As women continue pushing the boundaries of health and performance, one thing is clear, training is only part of the equation. Proper nutrition plays a huge role in supporting strength, recovery, and overall wellness. At Earth Fed Muscle, we believe nutrition should help fuel whatever kind of strong, healthy body you’re working toward.
Whether your focus is strength training, endurance, or simply feeling your best, having quality nutrition on your side can make a meaningful difference.
Some foundational tools many active women rely on include:
- Clean protein to support muscle repair and recovery
- Collagen for connective tissue and joint support
- High-quality multivitamins to help fill nutritional gaps
Women’s fitness has come a long way. From delicate “figure exercises” in the 1950s to the variety of training programs women are gaining strength through, today. The journey has been full of cultural shifts, lessons learned, and meaningful progress. Not every phase of fitness history was perfect, but each era helped move women’s health forward.
Those early gyms, aerobics classes, and even the misguided diet fads were all part of the path that led us here. And if the past seventy years have shown us anything, it’s this:
Women will continue redefining strength, health, and what it means to live well.
This Women’s History Month, we celebrate that progress and look forward to everything still ahead.