It depends on the context! The speed difference between men and women varies greatly depending on the activity.
Speed in Running:
- Longer Distances: Conventional wisdom suggests men run 10-12% faster than women across various distances. However, research indicates this gap narrows significantly in shorter sprints. [Source: Conventional wisdom holds that men run 10-12 percent faster than women regardless of the distance raced. But new research suggests that the between-sex performance gap is much narrower at shorter sprint distances. 27-Sept-2022]
- Ultramarathons: Interestingly, women outperform men in ultramarathons exceeding 195 miles. [Source: https://trainright.com/women-faster-than-men-ultramarathon/]
Other Contexts:
The question "Which gender is fast?" is too broad. Speed isn't solely determined by biological sex. Numerous factors influence speed, including:
- Specific activity: Comparing speed in running versus swimming, for example, will yield different results. Research shows gender differences in metabolic responses to fasting, impacting performance. [Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11701450/]
- Individual differences: Within each gender, individual variations in training, genetics, and fitness levels dramatically affect speed.
- Other factors: Even in seemingly straightforward activities, factors like training intensity, age, nutrition, and equipment can affect performance.
This question's ambiguity necessitates examining it within specific contexts for accurate comparisons. Studies highlight discrepancies in various areas unrelated to speed but still relating to gender; such as wage disparities. [Source: http://blog.dol.gov/2023/03/14/5-fast-facts-the-gender-wage-gap/] These disparities are entirely separate from physical speed.
