As the only lefty in my immediate family, I have always been intrigued by handedness, which is defined as an individual's preferential use of one hand, also known as the dominant hand. This post is dedicated to all the world's lefties trying to function in a right-handed world (you know what I'm talking about!) For my clueless right-handed friends, think of me when you see a classroom desk, scissors, or a microscope!)
Left-handedness is apparently genetic, so it's all the more surprising that I'm the only one in my family. However, my extended family on my dad's side certainly has some more lefties, so it's not all that strange. Another interesting tidbit that I found was that India has about half as many left-handers as the United States (despite its much larger population), and this is attributed mainly to the cultural aspect of the society. India is known to be a "collectivistic culture", which discourages left-handedness in children, whereas individualistic societies like the US and Canada allow children the freedom to choose their dominant hand, leading to this proud Indian American lefty.
Despite having to cope with the difficulties presented to us lefties, what should be noted with pride is the disproportionately higher number of winners in every field. Take artists for example -- Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Pablo Picasso, and M.C. Escher were all left-handed geniuses. While this can be attributed to the right hemisphere of the brain controlling imaging and visual abilities, it is also a known fact that chess players and architects are predominantly lefties.
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| Control of left and right lobe of brain. |
Particularly interesting to me is the high number of elite athletes who are lefties. Rafael Nadal, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, Babe Ruth, Wayne Gretzky, Lebron James, Pele, Phil Mickelson; the list goes on and on. That's quite an impressive list, and I'm happy to add my name to the list of illustrious tennis players. 💪🎾 In fact, the story goes that Nadal was actually "normal" but his uncle forced him to play with his left hand to gain an advantage in tennis. And it sure seems to have paid off!
While it is an established fact that left-handers excel in sports like tennis, baseball, swimming, and fencing, it turns out we are also in good company with intellectuals and leaders like Bill Gates, Winston Churchill, Barack Obama, and the inimitable Sigmund Freud. In fact, 5 out of the last 8 presidents have been left-handed (Trump is not one of them, whew!). For representing just 10% of the population, we lefties sure have left (no pun intended!) our mark in this world!
Okay, so left-handedness and ancient medicine, what's the connection, you ask? Not much actually except that ancient surgeons were seemingly more open to left-handedness than current medical staff. Ancient doctors like Celsus and Hippocrates recommended surgeons be skilled in using both hands. Hippocrates urged surgeons to practice surgery with each hand "to attain ability, grace, speed, painlessness, elegance, and readiness.” Unfortunately, current medical personnel are so trained to use medical equipment designed for right-handed people that medicine is a right-handed profession. I shudder at the thought of being a lefty physician one day! (Except for the anesthetic machine which is apparently better suited for left-handed people because its inventor Boyle was left-handed! 🙌)
Sources
https://online.notredamecollege.edu/left-handed-brain-differences/
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/medical-education/sites/medical-education/files/BMJeditorial.pdf
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