In some animals, the females are stronger and bigger than the males!
In humans, a biologist’s view is that being stronger/bigger/faster has been more important for males to survive and breed than for females (who tend to have a higher pain threshold, better fat reserves and be better at multi-tasking than men – all things important in having and raising offspring). This probably helped men outcompete each other in the (long ago distant) past in terms of mate competition and choice.
So the fastest, strongest, biggest male was able to win the female and breed, thereby having their genetic material passed on to the next generation. It is important to note these generalisations (men are bigger/stronger or women are better mutli-taskers, etc.) are talking about “on average” – there will be some women stronger or bigger than men and some men better at multi-tasking than women. Because diversity and variation exist in the population and are great!
Mia is right — genetically speaking, human males have been selectively reproducing based partially on some specific traits including physical strength. So boys are built just a little bit differently than girls, and that means bigger/more powerful muscles. Though it is my understanding that when it comes to endurance rather than physical strength, women on average are “better” than men. But I don’t know exactly where I heard that, so I could be wrong.
And it is triggered by hormone levels (we are all controlled by there hormones).
But as Mia says, it is on average. My younger daughter (an athlete when she really was younger) was stronger than most boys her age – even ones who wanted to become weight-lifters.
In some animals, the females are stronger and bigger than the males!
In humans, a biologist’s view is that being stronger/bigger/faster has been more important for males to survive and breed than for females (who tend to have a higher pain threshold, better fat reserves and be better at multi-tasking than men – all things important in having and raising offspring). This probably helped men outcompete each other in the (long ago distant) past in terms of mate competition and choice.
So the fastest, strongest, biggest male was able to win the female and breed, thereby having their genetic material passed on to the next generation. It is important to note these generalisations (men are bigger/stronger or women are better mutli-taskers, etc.) are talking about “on average” – there will be some women stronger or bigger than men and some men better at multi-tasking than women. Because diversity and variation exist in the population and are great!
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Mia is spot on.
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Mia is right — genetically speaking, human males have been selectively reproducing based partially on some specific traits including physical strength. So boys are built just a little bit differently than girls, and that means bigger/more powerful muscles. Though it is my understanding that when it comes to endurance rather than physical strength, women on average are “better” than men. But I don’t know exactly where I heard that, so I could be wrong.
0
And it is triggered by hormone levels (we are all controlled by there hormones).
But as Mia says, it is on average. My younger daughter (an athlete when she really was younger) was stronger than most boys her age – even ones who wanted to become weight-lifters.
1