Suchergebnisse

SummaryThe changes in the average male-female performance difference for nine running, six swimming and four skating events between the years 1936 and 1984 are examined. The data, world records and verified best performances, confirm the conclusions derived in earlier more circumscribed studies that women's performances relative to men's have improved markedly and are continuing to improve. This improvement is manifest in long and short distance events and in those in which women have been competing for a long time as much as those they have taken up recently. Regression analyses suggest that eventual equality of performance may be attained in the foreseeable future. The implications of these findings for women's sport are discussed. Women still have a more restricted programme in these three sports and many others; in particular several of the longer distance events are not open to them at Olympics, World Championships and so forth. These restrictions are obviously based on false perceptions of women's biology. With increasing participation, media exposure, training and social acceptance, women's improvements are likely to continue. The reasons for and implications of the previous incorrect scientific assessment of women's sporting potential are also discussed.

SummaryThe average male–female performance difference in the three sports of track athletics, swimming and time trial cycling are examined between the years 1948 and 1976. During this period females have gradually come to participate in a much larger number of events, particularly those of longer duration. In each of these three sports, women's performances in relation to men's have more or less continuously improved and it appears that if the changes between 1948 and 1976 are maintained, average female performance will equal that of males for all events currently competed in by both sexes in these sports at some time during the next century. Estimates as to when, precisely, this will occur vary somewhat according to the basis on which the calculations are made. The other main change evident during these years is that in all three sports women's performances relative to men's for events of long duration have become as good or better than their relative performance at events of short duration.

SummaryA review of the pattern and magnitude of nero–white mating in the US is presented from the time of the earliest arrival of negroes in the American colonies until the present, using historical, demographic, census and genetic evidence.The relative magnitude of negro male–white female matings compared to the converse are analysed in view of the different genetic outcomes of these two types of mating for X-linked genes. Contrary to many strongly stated opinions it is conclued from the historical evidence that, even from the earliest days of slavery, negro male–white female matings were a significant proportion of all negro–white matings. Census and demographic evidence suggests that their frequency increased so that from the time of the Civil War on they have formed a majority of inter-racial matings.Genetic evidence based on estimates of the amout of admixture of white genes in a number of negro populations is considered. Estimates of admixture for the X-linked genes G6PD, and those for colour blindness are as high or higher than those derived from comparable autosomal genes.Some observations on the total magnitude of negro–white mating, on the phenomenon of passing and on the relative socio-economic status of those involved are also made.The implication of the findings on these phenomena for investigations and hypotheses concerning differences in intelligence and intellectual abilites between the races, particulary spatial ability which is thought to be strongly influenced by a gene on the X chromosome, are considered.It is concluded that some of the assumptions made in proposing hypotheses regarding the origin and distribution of these abilities in the American negro are at variance with genetic, historical and sociological findings.

The differences between male and female performance in free style swimming events are compared. It is found that the differences 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 records for these events shows important differences between different countries in average male/female differentials.A different set of physical and physiological constraints operate on swimming compared to track performance, but they would seem to be less important in influencing male/female differences. Social factors also seem to be less important in swimming than in track athletics in perpetuating performance differences but are nevertheless still operative.

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.