What do Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga have in common? Aside from great singing voices, they’re both left-handed, a trait the world celebrates on Aug. 13, International Left-Handers Day.
First established in 1976 by Dean R. Campbell, who later founded the Left-Handers Club, the day celebrates left-handed individuality while raising awareness of the everyday frustrations lefties face in a world designed for right-handers.
About one in 10 people are left-handed, meaning more than 33 million Americans are regularly adapting to tools, workspaces and social norms built for the majority. Think spiral notebooks that smear ink across the hand, right-handed scissors and golf clubs designed with righties in mind.
International Left-Handers Day isn’t just about challenges; it’s also a celebration of creativity, quirks and surprising statistics. For instance, five of the last 10 U.S. presidents — Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — have been left-handed.
Researchers have uncovered several intriguing traits among left-handers. Some believe lefties may be better multitaskers because they tend to have a larger corpus callosum, the part of the brain that connects the two hemispheres. Children born to mothers over 40 are statistically more likely to be left-handed. Studies have also found that lefties are more likely to experience allergies and are more inclined to be night owls.