Sexual Differences in Athletic Performance: Biological or Behavioral?

Abstract

In brief: Sexual differences in athletic performance are largely due to variations in body size, body composition, aerobic power, and muscular strength. This article reviews the literature on sexual differences for these variables and examines both absolute and relative differences to determine whether they are caused by the biological factor of sex or by cultural influences. The authors conclude that although physiological values for the average man are statistically different from the average woman, differences between any two individuals of the same sex are often greater. Even though sexual differences can be greatly reduced or eliminated by using relative values, their larger size gives men a practical physical advantage in many athletic and daily activities.