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Lack of female participation is more likely explained by social, or most importantly historical elements rather than physiological factors.
Odd example, but for long women didn't have a soccer league not because they're 3 to 6 times more prone to ACL injuries (especially during luteal phase of their cycle), but because it was a men's thing simply put.
Now there are great tendencies to even out participation and level, just take a look at some compilations of milestones or histories regarding women participation for example from the IOC. Important to note: not just as athletes but in leadership positions as well!
Movements like this, promoting equality and equilibrium are the cogs for this "revolution" and I very much support the cause. Bear in mind though that at the same time we cannot expect exactly the same rules or conditions for each and every sport. Male weight categories in female weightlifting would be bizarre, or female hammer throwers having to spin the 16pound hammer.
As this topic is about endurance events, I actually envisage it being quite probable that male and female events will share the same length regardless of discipline.
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5115_Pete
Thanks, Pete, very interesting.
To what extent would you say phenomena such as higher likelihood of stress fractures may be a reflection of currently relatively low participation by women in (elite) sports, i.e. a reflection of the current, uncorrected situation? Might this change significantly if women's participation in sports approached that of men more (and sex stereotypes, e.g. about 'feminine' appearance, became less powerful as deterrents)?
I realise you deal with existing data rather than pie-in-the-sky thinking, but I always wonder to what extent the data may not reflect, and perhaps be skewed by, how things currently stand.