The majority of people, about nine out of ten, are right-handed. 1 until recently, people who were left-handed were considered 2 , and once children showed this tendency they were forced to use their right hands. Today left-handedness is generally 3 , but it is still a disadvantage in a world 4 most people are right-handed. For example, most tools and implements are still 5 for right-handed people.
In sports 6 contrast, doing things with the left hand or foot, is often an advantage. Throwing, kicking, punching or batting from the " 7 " side may result in throwing 8 many opponents who are more accustomed to dealing with the 9 of players who are right-handed. This is why, in many 10 at a professional level, a 11 proportion of players are left-handed than in the population as a whole.
The word "right" in many languages means "correct" or is 12 with law- fulness, whereas the words associated 13 "left", such as "sinister", generally have 14 associations. Moreover, among a number of primitive peoples, there is 15 close association between death and the left hand.
In the past, in 16 Western societies, children were often forced to use their right hands, especially to write with. In some cases the left hand was 17 behind the child"s back so that it could not be used. If, in the future, they are allowed to choose, 18 will certainly be more left-handers, and probably 19 people with minor psychological disturbances as a result of being forced to use their 20 hand.