This article was originally published in UCSB's ' The Current '.
In the heavily male-dominated world of weightlifting, women are breaking stereotypes and inspiring each other to fill the weight room.
“The gym is a place to learn more about yourself,” said Awni Broughton, co-president of UC Santa Barbara’s chapter of Girl Gains, a student-led organization promoting a strong female presence in the weight room. “It’s important to remember that everyone was a beginner at some point, and just because you don't look a certain way or lift a certain amount, it doesn't diminish your ability to be a weightlifter. You’re a weightlifter if you pick up a weight.”