I also think it’s psychological.
Men are natural hunters by instinct and have an easier grasp on tactics and prefer more complex situations. Men are naturally more competitive and have a "killer instinct".
Also, perhaps, it's because (in the majority of cases), me can focus on something very specific for a period of time, whilst women prefer to focus on less complex situations and also more on multiple tasks and range related rather than to focus on one specific task.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that women don't possess a killer instinct or are not tacticians, I'm just referring that men are that way for the most part, and it's more natural for them.
This is just my honest opinion
A few years ago, I watched a program about the sexes, and a point was raised that men enjoy games with simple goals and complex rules; for example, U.S. football. The goal is simple: get to the endzone. However, football rules are complex. It's the same for NBA basketball, simple goal of putting the ball in the hole, with many complex rules and time-limits. Chess is the same, with the simple goal of capturing the enemy king, but many complexities along the way.
Many women think things like football is stupid or a chore to try to learn, so maybe there's a natural dislike (in general) for chess as well.
Originally posted by vivify Many women think things like football is stupid or a chore to try to learn, so maybe there's a natural dislike (in general) for chess as well.
Originally posted by thaughbaer That's 1 then. 1/17150... seems fairly good. It's a lot better ratio than those that understand the offside rule.
Richard and Andy
And the player on this site with the highest differential of won/lost games is also female. Check my profile.
And I understand baseball, basketball, hockey and football better than most chessplayers.
Originally posted by caissad4 And the player on this site with the highest differential of won/lost games is also female. Check my profile.
And I understand baseball, basketball, hockey and football better than most chessplayers.
Ah.. but do you know who Richard and Andy are ? Because therein lies the joke. In any case you weren't meant to read my post.. it was made off-air.
I do apologize. I thought I'd put enough in my post to at least suggest an inkling of humour. Must try harder next time. Perhaps I'm too wrapped up in a relationship to concentrate. Doh !!
Originally posted by thaughbaer I do apologize. I thought I'd put enough in my post to at least suggest an inkling of humour. Must try harder next time. Perhaps I'm too wrapped up in a relationship to concentrate. Doh !!
The real reason fewer females than males play chess is remarkably simple,like most competitive things in life female humans are for the most part and with obvious and not so obvious exceptions simply not quite as competitive minded as most male humans and,as a consequence are less willing to 'play games' to a similar or greater standard of excellence as that which is often displayed by male chess players. It is I feel sure in the year 2011 fashionable to 'attack' any person who makes what some people call 'politically incorrect' statements, however a simple truth is a truth nevertheless and no person should be unwilling to state facts which can be verified,regardless of personal abuse received from the 'politically correct set--------aLR
Originally posted by RECUVIC The real reason fewer females than males play chess is remarkably simple,like most competitive things in life female humans are for the most part and with obvious and not so obvious exceptions simply not quite as competitive minded as most male humans and,as a consequence are less willing to 'play games' to a similar or greater standard of excellence as that ...[text shortened]... rified,regardless of personal abuse received from the 'politically correct set--------aLR
I don't think it's necessarily accurate to lump all competition together when drawing distinctions between male and female competitive drive.
Nor do I think there's enough information to imply a single causative factor for gender difference in participation or performance in chess. There are reasons other than hard-wiring along gender lines that people do or don't pursue certain hobbies. Granted, sometimes hard-wiring is the reason, but sometimes it isn't.
It's probably a nuanced answer, is all I'm saying.
Why so few women chess players?
25 Apr '11 20:15
Back to Top