When I was in high school we had a gymnastics team – girls only.  I was always under the impression that balance beam was adopted in women’s gymnastics to replace rings in men’s gymnastics (which is an upper body strength event really not appropriate for women).  Thus the men compete in horse, rings, bar & floor where as women compete in horse (vaulting rather performing on the horse), balance beam. uneven parallel bars & floor.   If you study the male & female form its pretty…