Balance and coordination
Cognitive/Balance tasks for adults do not seem to show a consistent gender effect. While studying the effects of cognitive processing on balance and posture, Kerr et al (1985) found that "men swayed left-right more than women" while balancing, but in general, did not find that memory tasks influenced balance in one gender preferentially. Barra et al (2006) found that number of falls increased during tasks with greater cognitive load for both sexes.
The Movement Assessment Battery for Children has often been used as a diagnostic tool. In the development of norms for the M-ABC, it was generally found that boys did better on ball skills while girls did better on balance skills. However, results from Miyahara et al (1998) suggest the norms for this test are not cross-culturally consistent.
Much like today's studies, I can't say I've really noticed a pattern in clumsiness in men or women. I also haven't noticed men or women talking about their clumsiness more, but women seem to discuss it more loudly, and more apologetically. I think women may expect themselves to be more graceful, whereas men don't measure themselves on that factor as often.
The Movement Assessment Battery for Children has often been used as a diagnostic tool. In the development of norms for the M-ABC, it was generally found that boys did better on ball skills while girls did better on balance skills. However, results from Miyahara et al (1998) suggest the norms for this test are not cross-culturally consistent.
Much like today's studies, I can't say I've really noticed a pattern in clumsiness in men or women. I also haven't noticed men or women talking about their clumsiness more, but women seem to discuss it more loudly, and more apologetically. I think women may expect themselves to be more graceful, whereas men don't measure themselves on that factor as often.