Growing up, Starre Vartan was often told to ask boys or men for help with physical labor, even when she knew she didn’t need it. In The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, Vartan details how female bodies, on average, outperform male bodies in endurance, immunity, and longevity. Here, she discusses how she wove together accounts from athletes, researchers, and her own experiences to cover the science and misconceptions surrounding female strength.