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Social influences on female athletic performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

K. F Dyer
Affiliation:
Department of Genetics, University of Adelaide, South Australia

Extract

The differences between male and female performance in athletic track events at which both compete are compared. It is found that the difference between male and female performance as measured by world records is declining in all events and declining most rapidly in those events in which the differences at the present time are largest. Analysis of national track records for these same events shows considerable differences between different countries in average male/female differentials and the differences between males and females for some events in some countries is much smaller than world record differences.

It is concluded that social factors such as differing degrees of encouragement and differing levels of expectation are important factors in limiting female athletic performance.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1976

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References

Lietzke, M.H. (1954) An analytical study of world and Olympic racing records. Science, N.Y. 119, 333.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lloyd, B.B. (1966) The energetics of running; an analysis of world records. Advmt Sci. 22, 515Google ScholarPubMed