When a group of local women realized traditional gyms weren’t fully meeting their needs, they decided to build their own. Raise the Bar Initiative is opening its first gym this month, offering ...

On Wednesday evenings at IM West, Michigan State University students may spot two large groups of women lifting together — cheering, laughing and pushing their limits. It’s more than just a workout.

Girl Gains, a club started at Northwestern last year as a chapter of the national organization, aims to promote female weightlifting and make going to the gym a judgment-free experience for women.