I believe there is even more social factors:
Everyone tends to do things that they are good at. If men were the ones that largely created sports and it’s rules, our current sports could be tailored for male bodies, because they set the rules. What happens when women create sports? Will they have physical advantages for the given rules.
Also, isn’t it weird that society asserts that men are better at ALL physical activities. Hormones and physiology gives us equal intelligence, but men are just better in ALL physical activity? Everything from bowling to pool (pool for god sakes) to running to archery to basketball are all segregated because it will be unfair to women. I call bullshit. It seems strange that not one physical activity is consider to be advantageous for women. Not one. Bullshit.
You also have to consider is there a bigger pool of men going out for these sports than women. Most likely yes. Given this fact. A larger population will create more competition and increase the likelihood of very special athletes.
Lastly what is the support and culture that surrounds male and female athletes? Very small countries are able to become world class in a given field because there is an intense culture of excellence and large amounts of cultural support. Do women even get an iota of this kind of culture when they participate in physical activity? Maybe.
Do trainers and even athletes subconsciously think that they can be great, but will never be the the greatest ever regardless of gender? That sounds like a fair assessment. Therefore, female athletes can be a product of low expectations. Btw, I have never heard a woman proclaim to be the VERY best regardless of gender and beat any man or woman that wants to compete. Therefore, the effects of low expectations can be EXTREMELY pervasive.
