Objectives <p>Within the context of deeply ingrained traditional gender concepts influenced by Chinese cultural background, women in China persistently confront widespread issues of gender inequality. Although socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, social hierarchy, and physical exercise are acknowledged as significant factors, this study specifically examines the relationship between physical exercise and women’s traditional gender concepts.</p> Methods <p>Utilizing data from the 2013 and 2023 waves of the Chinese General Social Survey, this study applied multiple ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses to assess the impact of physical exercise on women’s traditional gender concepts. To ensure the robustness of the findings, propensity score matching techniques were employed. Furthermore, instrumental variable two stage least squares (IV-2SLS) was implemented to mitigate potential endogeneity concerns stemming from reverse causality or omitted variable bias.</p> Results <p>(1) In 2013, the percentage of women participation in physical exercise was lower than that of women who did not participate. Conversely, by 2023, this trend had reversed. The sample primarily consisted middle-aged and older women, individuals with agricultural household registration, married women, those possessing educational backgrounds at the primary, junior, or general high school levels, as well as women belonging to the middle social hierarchy. (2) From the standpoint of traditional gender concepts, in 2023, among young and middle-aged women—regardless of agricultural or non-agricultural household registration status—who were married, residing in the eastern and western regions, and possessing educational qualifications ranging from junior school and general high school to associate and bachelor degrees obtained through regular higher education, as well as those situated within the 3rd to 7th tiers of the social hierarchy, the degree of traditional gender concepts was markedly lower compared to 2013. Conversely, older women exhibited a relative increase in adherence to these traditional gender concepts; Regarding participation in physical exercise, in 2023, across young, middle-aged, and older female cohorts with both agricultural and non-agricultural household registrations, who were married, living in the middle, eastern, and western regions, and holding educational levels from junior school and general high school to associate and bachelor degrees attained via regular higher education, and positioned within the 1st to 6th social hierarchy levels, the frequency of participation in physical exercise was higher than that recorded in 2013; (3) OLS estimates indicated that participation in physical exercise significantly reduced traditional gender concepts among women in both 2013 and 2023, with the magnitude of this effect being greater in 2023; (4) IV-2SLS estimations confirmed robustness, revealing a significant negative effect in 2023 after accounting for endogeneity; Advanced age, possession of an agricultural household registration, and lower levels of educational attainment were associated with more pronounced traditional gender concepts, whereas higher educational attainment served to attenuate these tendencies.</p> Conclusions <p>This study demonstrates that participation in physical exercise attenuates traditional gender concepts among women in China, with a more pronounced impact observed in 2023. Physical exercise is significantly associated with the diminution of traditional gender concepts established for the year 2023, whereas the effect in 2013 was found to be statistically insignificant. Additionally, factors such as life stage, household registration status, and schooling were shown to affect traditional gender concepts . These findings underscored the significance of physical exercise in advancing gender role modernization and provide empirical support for policies aimed at increasing women's participation in physical exercise.</p>