Left-handers have existed in all cultures thoughout humanity but it is a right-handed world, designed and operated for the majority.
Left-handers have often been told to “get over it” or “figure it out for yourself” and often do not reach their full potential as a result.
It is time for that to change.
Left-handers are not an insignificant minority. An approximate 10% proportion of left-handers has been evidenced in the last 5,000 years of human history. The most recent scientific estimate is that 10.6% of the population is left-handed, however this is thought to be an underestimation as the study included research dating back to 1927 when left-handedness was socially less accepted. This is expected to grow to as much as 15.2% in the future.
Left-handedness is normal. It is a natural characteristic, a normal variant of human hand preference. An Australian-led study identified 41 genetic loci associated with left-handedness and an additional seven for ambidexterity. Real-time ultrasound has identified that lateralised behaviour starts in utero as early as 10 weeks gestation, reinforcing a genetic control of handedness. Male left-handers outnumber female left-handers by approximately 5:4. Familial and, to a lesser degree, environmental influences on handedness have also been identified as contributing to the handedness of a person . Although hand preference generally becomes established at 3-4 years of age, it may not become established until 6 years of age or older.
We live in a world primarily designed by and created for the majority: right-handers. Societal norms of the 19th and first half of the 20th Century, saw most left-handed children being forcibly changed to right-handed behaviours in their schooling. Cruel oppressive practices were frequently used on young children to convert them from being left-handed including corporal punishment, tying down the left hand and forcing the child to sit on their left hand when writing. These practices continue in some parts of the world where left-handedness is still not tolerated such as parts of Asia and Africa. It is reported that up to two thirds of the world’s population continues to stigmatise left-handedness. Cultural, societal and familial biases continue against left-handedness which adds to the confusion and lack of support experienced by these young learners. Those cultural beliefs can be instilled in the child’s skills development by the extended family before the child attends school, masking the child’s natural hand preference when they commence schooling.
Switching the handedness of a person creates physiological changes in the brain but does not suppress the left-handed functional areas. The left hemisphere of the human brain controls the motor function of the right side of the body, and vice versa, but a forced change in handedness results in control by both brain hemispheres. Researchers have previously identified links between the prevalence of stuttering and switching handedness and weak laterality. Other consequences of switching handedness include disturbances in speech, memory and concentration as well as poor quality outputs and low self-esteem. Switched left-handed writers continued to display a preference for the left hand in most other activities despite the intensive writing retraining. Such conflicts in brain activity can be avoided by supporting children using the correct method with the correct tools in the correct hand.
We must allow our children to use their natural hand and we must also actively support them as they learn and play. This will allow them to reach their full potential and to express themselves naturally and genuinely.
(References available on request)
LEFT-IN is a global interest group formed in 2021 with the aim to improve the information and education available to the educators of left-handed children around the world.
