Strings again

The need to apply a lot of pressure after building up the callouses becomes less of an issue.  I imagine that it really doesn't matter whether you are male or female.  Some people continue to use a lot of pressure, which is just not needed.  To answer your question, I am betting a female can do anything a man can do, in this case.

It's not whether men or women could apply more pressure, but whether either of them can't apply enough pressure.  I think members of either sex can apply sufficient pressure on any kind of strings - given time.  No one should expect to be able to play with bridge cables in their first week.  Anyone without some sort of condition preventing it should be able to develop enough finger strength to push any size of guitar string the tiny fraction of an inch necessary to get a clean note.

I'm thinking its completely relative and based purely on muscular/skeletal geometry,  in other words, leverage, and practice. I sure that sex isn't the issue here.  It's a given that males dominate the guitar world, but keep in mind that there are the likes of Jennifer Batten, Tal Wickenfield, Nancy Wilson, Orianthi, the list goes on.   Oh!  Bonny Raitt, can't forget her.  I'd bet they all use a variety of gages of strings. Tal Wickenfield plays bass like a banshee and those strings are thick!

I stand corrected. I am derelict in neglecting our very own Auxi.  I beg forgiveness.

I prefer medium strings, I don't care for the way lights sound on my guitar.  I strum pretty hard and do a lot of chopping too.  I find the longer I play at any sitting the harder I tend to apply tension while fretting, which isn't necessary just a bad habit.  I like my nails painted and my hands soft, but I like my guitar callouses even more. 

I usually use 11's on my Yamaha and 12's on my Guild.  I hope it's OK that some guys use 11's too. 

I am going to try some Ernie Ball 12's on my Guild.  It's made for bluegrass and fingerpicking and the extra volume could be helpful. 

- Zurf

I use 11's on both my Breedloves and 12's on my Ibanez. I also use 10's on my electric, I tried 9's on the electric but I'm so used to playing acoustic's I put too much pressure on the strings and it sounds out of tune.