Here's a scenario for you:
A woman marches into a boardroom to take her place among the other company executives. They're all men. Once they figure out she isn't there to pour the coffee they proceed to ignore her. When she speaks, they interrupt. When she asks a question it goes unanswered. Basically, it's as if they are embarrassed by her presence and are dealing with it by pretending she's not there.
Suppose you were that woman? What would you do? Would you slink out in shame and resign your position forthwith?
Oh, hell no! You wouldn't put up with that sh!t for a minute, would you???
So why do you do it at the gym?
Unless the terms of your membership say otherwise, you have the same right to be in the weight room as the guys do. And you're owed the same courtesy. Meaning, they have to let you work in when equipment is in short supply. And they have to respect your physical space. If you're in the middle of a set of barbell lunges they can't move in and start doing dumbbell curls so close to you that your range of motion is limited. Nor can they just help themselves to your equipment or your space when you're resting between sets. They need to ask whether you're done, and if you say no they need to ask permission to work in. Just as though you were a guy. Your gender doesn't entitle you to special treatment in the weight room, but it doesn't make you a second-class citizen either.
Believe me, I understand that the weight room can be an intimidating environment for women. When guys work out they often grunt and sweat and curse (or cuss, if you're in the South :)) and drop weights on the floor and generally act in ways that don't come naturally to most women unless they are in labor. They're generally not doing it to be rude, however, and women need to keep that in mind and be a bit tolerant of uncouthness that is not deliberate.
Speaking from experience, I can tell you that the guys will rapidly come to accept your presence in the weight room once they realize that you are there to work hard and that you know what you're doing. In fairness to the guys, women sometimes do behave cluelessly in the weight room. You know how the rear view mirror in your car isn't there so you can finish your makeup while stuck in morning traffic? Well, by the same token the squat rack isn't a ballet barre, and it isn't there to protect you from falling dumbbells while you do your Pilates routine. Of course you know that, but I've seen plenty of women who don't, and because of them you likely won't be given the benefit of the doubt the way a guy would be. Instead you'll have to prove yourself a bit. That's annoying as hell, of course, but it is what it is, and in time it likely will change as more and more women take up resistance training.
It's already happening in the board room, right?
