What are the Perils of Being a Lefty?
What are the Perils of Being a Lefty?
About 10% of the world is left-handed. That means, only 1 in every 10 people primarily use their left hand to perform tasks. Therefore, in a world where most people are right-handed, lefties often have difficulty performing day-to-day tasks with tools, appliances, and other equipment that have been designed for the right-handed majority.
Left handed statistics
Men: 1 in every 9 men are left handed
Women: 1 in every 13 women are left handed
Likelihood of Having Left-Handed Children
Studies have shown that left-handedness is linked to the gene LRRTM1, which affects the symmetry of the brain. The likelihood of passing on this gene increases if both parents are left-handed.
If both parents are left-handed, they have a 26% chance of having a left-handed child.
One left-handed parent and one right-handed parent have a 19% chance of having a left-handed child
If both parents are right-handed, they have a 9% change of having a left-handed child.
Left-handedness decreases with age?
Demographics show that 13% of 20 year-olds in America are left-handed. However, by age 50, that number drops to 5%. And at age 80, lefties only make up 0.8% of that age group.
Left-handed Twins
The identical twin of a left-handed person has a 76% chance of being left-handed. Is left-handedness genetic or partly environmental?
Left-handed Perils
Are left-handed people clumsy? While left-handed people may be more likely to have accidents, it is probably not because they are more accident-prone than their right-handed friends. Lefties are more likely to be injured while performing day-to-day tasks due to appliances and machines favoring right-handed people.
Lefties are…
- 85% more likely to get into a car accident
- 54% more likely to be hurt using tools
- 49% more likely to have an accident at home
- 20% more likely to have an accident at work
Left-handed workers are 5 times more likely to suffer an amputation than their right-handed coworkers.
Of those with amputations, lefties are more likely to have their dominate hand amputated. Research shows that left-handed amputees suffer a 79% loss of the left hand compared to a 51% loss of the right hand.
Some claims have tied left-handed people to an increased likelihood of exhibiting schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and other emotional problems. 3 times as many left-handed people have schizophrenia, bipolar disease or autism.
While this correlation remains widely disputed, the same gene that can determine left-handedness, LRRTM1, also increases testosterone levels in the brain, which in turn could cause an imbalance leading to certain conditions.
Day to Day
One of the hardest challenges for left-handed people are day-to-day tasks. Most appliances, machines and procedures are designed for the right-handed community.
- Left-handed scissors have been made that have reverse blades (blades are on top).
- Some ergonomic computer mice are designed to be only suitable for right hands.
- Most school desks are designed to cater to right-handed people, making note taking very difficult for left-handed individuals.
- Light bulbs, screws and most items that are threaded are turned clockwise. This makes screwing in certain items such as light bulbs very difficult for lefties.
The Upside of Being a Lefty
In males, left-handed people have the tendency to earn more money.
- A left-handed individual with 1 year of college education makes an average of 13% more than his right-handed counterpart.
- And a left-handed person with 4 years of college brings home an income that is 21% more than his right-handed equivalent.
Before the 20th century, left-handedness was considered a disability, so little is reported on which presidents were left-handed. However, since 1929, 6 of the 14 U.S. presidents were left-handed, including Barack Obama.
Famous Lefties
Some people say that left-handed people show the proclivity to be more creative than right-handed individuals. What do you think?
Some famous left-handed people include:
Julius Caesar
Napoleon Bonaparte
Albert Einstein
Fidel Castro
Bill Gates
Leonardo da Vinci
Babe Ruth
Jimi Hendrix
Marie Curie
