Examination of handwriting for gender identifying features

Handwriting is a unique identity of every individual which can neither be copied nor be recreated. This uniqueness of handwriting in every individual is the product of variation which one makes either consciously or unconsciously but this uniqueness is the foremost requirement for handwriting analysis. An attempt was made to examine and analyse the various minute features possessed in handwriting and to classify them into macro and micro features. These features were further used to discriminate and divide handwritings on the basis of its capability of determining or predicting the gender of the writer. Over 130 samples of handwriting were examined and a promising result were observed proving the handwriting features to be gender identifying, further hypothesis testing of the same showed positive results up to some extent leading to rejection of null hypothesis that “ there is no significant difference in handwriting of male and female”. The results observed in the examination may be said to be the great breakthrough in the field of graphology as well as forensic science if it became possible to predict the gender of the writing by examination of his/her handwriting and thus by knowing the gender, the suspect list for a particular case can be shortened, which will facilitate the examination / investigation.