Abstract

This multi-authored volume offers a combination of original reports and re- views covering historical, biological, and medical aspects for womens participation in sports. Controversies, particularly concerning male and female differences in performance capacity, are stressed through the presentation of new evidence drawn from multidisciplinary sources. The volume begins with efforts to trace the evolution of contemporary social attitudes governing womens participation in sports. Examinations of attitudes in ancient Greece and the Renaissance are complemented by articles evaluating the social posi- tion of women in Egypt, Japan and Australia. Subsequent papers report on the specific physiological and metabolic responses of female athletes during laboratory and field exercise. Using biological and biochemical findings, these studies focus on defining fundamental performance characteristics of females and males. An effort is also made to replace common assumptions with precise medical data concerning the similarities and differences in female and male adaptations to training. Other special topics include the influence of the menstrual cycle on work performance and the question of whether sports participation can affect reproduction. Verf.-Referat