Why so few women chess players?

Originally posted by Mad Rook
"chess, poker, darts, backgammon, snooker/pool, all male dominated games in terms of numbers and quility yet all games that woman could be equally as good at if not better. so why so much male dominance in games that they have no physical advantage in?" (posted by trev33)

idk, maybe women have better things to do with their time? 🙂 (Just playing devil's advocate.)

Gentlemen (and ladies) we have a winner ! Your comment is more to the point than being a devil's advocate. I had this conversation with Jen Shahade several years ago while she was researching her book on women in chess. Women and men have different priorities. Each sex is pressured societally when growing up towards certain actions and away from others. Men have larger and more sensitive egos.

Originally posted by caissad4
Gentlemen (and ladies) we have a winner ! Your comment is more to the point than being a devil's advocate. I had this conversation with Jen Shahade several years ago while she was researching her book on women in chess. Women and men have different priorities. Each sex is pressured societally when growing up towards certain actions and away from others. Men have larger and more sensitive egos.

I don't agree with this post at all. You'd have a point if we were talking about football...but chess?

So there's "societal pressure" that causes women to play board games less?

That doesn't seem like a good explanation at all.

Originally posted by vivify
I don't agree with this post at all. You'd have a point if we were talking about football...but chess?

So there's "societal pressure" that causes women to play board games less?

That doesn't seem like a good explanation at all.

Well, since I am just a silly girl who obviously doesn't know what I am talking about I will leave it up to some big intelligent man to tell me what is reality. Please forgive my assuming that I would even have a clue.

Originally posted by caissad4
Well, since I am just a silly girl who obviously doesn't know what I am talking about I will leave it up to some big intelligent man to tell me what is reality. Please forgive my assuming that I would even have a clue.

If a woman says that society keeps her from playing Monopoly because society doesn't think women can succeed at business...that's no less stupid than what you posted.

So what other board games have us big intelligent men kept you from playing? Checkers? Sorry?

Originally posted by vivify
If a woman says that society keeps her from playing Monopoly because society doesn't think women can succeed at business...that's no less stupid than what you posted.

So what other board games have us big intelligent men kept you from playing? Checkers? Sorry?

Football, Monopoly, Checkers ? Silly me, I thought we were talking about chess. Your ignorant posts illustrate my point. I gave you a woman's point of view and you gave a man's point of view. And you believe that you, as a man, can dismiss or minimalize societal pressures put upon women. I do not believe you even have a clue.

Originally posted by caissad4
Women and men have different priorities. Each sex is pressured societally when growing up towards certain actions and away from others.

exactly... woman should be in the kitchen cooking her mans dinner while staying at home looking after the kids, no time silly games.

Originally posted by vivify

Why so few women chess players?

I don't know, maybe read some of the idiotic sexist remarks in this thread, then do the math.

Originally posted by caissad4
Football, Monopoly, Checkers ? Silly me, I thought we were talking about chess. Your ignorant posts illustrate my point. I gave you a woman's point of view and you gave a man's point of view. And you believe that you, as a man, can dismiss or minimalize societal pressures put upon women. I do not believe you even have a clue.

The whole "I'm a girl, therefore I'm right on all things female" doesn't fly. You must use a little thing called "logic" or "support for your argument". So far. you havent done that one bit. Please do that. rather than "omg. i totolly have boobs. so i'm like totally right!" got it? HOW does "Societal pressure" discourage women from chess? I await a well thoght out answer.

There's only one thing worse than a non-sub-scum newbie and that's a sexist non-sub-scum newbie.

Jesus wept

skeets

I really struggle to understand how this thread belongs in only chess as there is essentially zero chess content.

This is a dangerous topic, as it will probably offend more than aid. My personal opinion is that you need a little OCD to really enjoy chess (I include myself in that broad generalisation), and that OCD is more prevalent in men than women. For the most part, RHP is dominated by men because there are some of us that have little better to do. A good statistic here is that women do 70% of the World's work, earn 10% of the income, and own <1% of the land.

In the end though, does it really matter? You could easily make a thread arguing that chess is middle-class dominated / rich nation dominated etc. The important point is if you enjoy chess, I will enjoy playing you, regardless of sex/nationality/political leaning/affluence/[insert anything here]. The only exception is if you cheat, then I'll be angry 🙂

Originally posted by nimzo5
I really struggle to understand how this thread belongs in only chess as there is essentially zero chess content.

Rec'd times 1000.

I feel bad for stoking the flames at all.

Originally posted by skeeter
There's only one thing worse than a non-sub-scum newbie and that's a sexist non-sub-scum newbie.

Jesus wept

skeets

In other words, you must succumb to insults because you are unable to make any valid points against my superior argument.

Thanks for the compliment.

And way to prove your moral superiority by calling someone "scum" without even saying why.

Have a great day.

Really, is that all it takes to be hated around here? Just disagree with a woman on something, thereby making you a sexist? Tsk, tsk. You'd think on a chess site, people would resort to moe intelligent methods of conversation.

Oh, and to the hypocrits here: why is it that when that female poster says that men have huge easy to bruise egos, that's okay; but when I tell that female poster she should back up her arguments with actual logic, that's sexist?

I think those hypocrits just want to seem like heros and get some internet kudos. Sad.