Crossword Genius

Country that splits the difference between male and female adults? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

oman

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'country' is the definition.
(I know that Oman is a Asian country)

'splits the difference between male and female adults?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'male' could be 'man' (man is a kind of male) and 'man' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'o' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'that' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for oman that I've seen before include "Sultanate in southwest Asia" , "Middle Eastern country" , "Gulf sultanate" , "Former Gulf country, Muscat and --" , "Gulf state" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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