Doing a pull-up is typically more challenging for the average woman, according to Professor Leigh Breen, a specialist in muscle physiology at the University of Leicester. This is attributed to several factors, including differences in muscle mass, body fat percentage, and anatomy.
Women naturally carry a smaller proportion of muscle mass in their upper body, which are the primary muscles used in pull-ups. Additionally, women generally have a slightly higher body fat percentage than men. These factors can reduce a woman's strength-to-weight ratio, making it harder to lift their entire bodyweight.
Anatomical differences also play a role. Men tend to have broader shoulders and different body proportions, which can make the mechanics of a pull-up more favourable. Women often have a slightly lower centre of gravity, which may marginally increase the challenge of the movement.
Despite these average population differences, Professor Breen notes that individuals can train and achieve similar levels of muscle adaptation. He states that a slight disadvantage is not enough to prevent women from becoming proficient at pull-ups, with many women capable of doing more pull-ups than the average man.