Nature Versus Nurture: Have Performance Gaps Between Men and Women Reached an Asymptote?

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Mindy Millard-StaffordMatthew T Wittbrodt

Abstract

Men outperform women in sports requiring muscular strength and/or endurance, but the relative influence of "nurture" versus "nature" remains difficult to quantify. Performance gaps between elite men and women are well documented using world records in second, centimeter, or kilogram sports. However, this approach is biased by global disparity in reward structures and opportunities for women. Despite policies enhancing female participation (Title IX legislation), US women only closed performance gaps by 2% and 5% in Olympic Trial swimming and running, respectively, from 1972 to 1980 (with no change thereafter through 2016). Performance gaps of 13% in elite middistance running and 8% in swimming (∼4-min duration) remain, the 5% differential between sports indicative of load carriage disadvantages of higher female body fatness in running. Conversely, sprint swimming exhibits a greater sex difference than sprint running, suggesting anthropometric/power advantages unique to swim-block starts. The ∼40-y plateau in the performance gap suggests a persistent dominance of biological influences (eg, longer limb levers, greater muscle mass, greater aerobic capacity, and lower fat mass) on performance. Current evidence suggests that women w...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 9, 2018·Frontiers in Psychology·Beat KnechtleStefania Di Gangi
May 28, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Beat KnechtlePantelis Theo Nikolaidis
Mar 16, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Santiago VeigaJosé María González-Ravé

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