Developmental Gender Differences for Overhand Throwing in Aboriginal Australian Children

Abstract

In a review of 46 meta-analyses of gender differences, overhand throwing had the largest gender difference favoring boys (ES > 3.0). Expectations for gender-specific performances may be less pronounced in female Australian Aborigines, because historical accounts state they threw for defense and hunting. Overhand throwing velocities and kinematics were recorded in 30 female and male Aboriginal Australian children 6-10 years old. Results indicated the Aboriginal girls and boys were more similar in horizontal ball velocities than U.S. girls and boys. Throwing kinematics between girls and boys were also more similar in Australian Aborigines than U.S. children. Aboriginal girls threw with greater velocities than U.S., German, Japanese, and Thai girls, while the boys were similar across cultures.

Key words:

• Biomechanics
• Cultural influences
• Overhand throwing
• Skill development

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jerry R. Thomas

This research was supported by a fellowship and visiting professor status granted to the first author from the Raine Foundation at the University of Western Australia as well as a Faculty Development Leave to the first and third authors from Iowa State University. Thanks to Tim Derrick, Brent Edwards, and Stacey Meardon, Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, for their assistance with this project. Thanks to the children, parents, teachers, and educational leaders at Mooditj Community College for their participation and support of this study. Please address correspondence concerning this article to Jerry R. Thomas, Dean, College of Education, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203.