Current Events > Why does chess even have separate women's and men's categories?

(+) Yeah! (+)

How is this sport already not completely integrated?

Because it encourages women and girls to take up the game.

There is no drawback, only good.

I thought that they didn't. Pretty sure there's a women's only and then there's the open, which men and women can both join.

There is no men's-only league though, it's open to anyone that wants to compete. The women's league exists for those that find the general league too intimidating or difficult to get into right off the bat and to encourage young girls and women that are interested.

ai123 posted...

There is no drawback, only good

idk, it sort of enforces the idea that men are better than women at chess, and women can't compete equally with men, which is untrue.

Paragon21XX posted...

The women's league exists for those that find the general league too intimidating or difficult to get into right off the bat and to encourage young girls and women that are interested.

the "leagues" should be divided based on skill or experience, things relevant to the performance of the game. not arbitrary things like gender.

I posted 4x videos in the other topic, the women of chess will explain it to u.

Giant_Aspirin posted...

the "leagues" should be divided based on skill or experience, things relevant to the performance of the game. not arbitrary things like gender.

Elo ratings already exist.

All a women's league does is split the competition into "open" and "safe space" - there is no men's division.

If there's no difference then why are people complaining about transwomen competing in the women's league?

lolife67 posted...

If there's no difference then why are people complaining about transwomen competing in the women's league?

transphobia

Most men's sporting leagues are actually open, but women rarely or never play in them.

ai123 posted...

Because it encourages women and girls to take up the game.

There is no drawback, only good.

Is it good that people self select into segregated leagues though?

I'm genuinely open to an explanation but this close to circular logic

who would benefit by such a drastic change?

They could I guess. Though I don't think the top women's player is even in the top 100 players in the world, that's how vast the difference appears to be.

Because having women's-only tournaments increases the number of women who participate in organized chess.

It's the same reason why e-sports also have a women division, to provide a safe space & encourage participation.

Sexist men, made women getting into the game feel uneasy. So they said nuts to this.

g980 posted...

Is it good that people self select into segregated leagues though?

I'm genuinely open to an explanation but this close to circular logic

There are overall less women that play the game, having a league for themselves gives a chance to just highlight and feature other women in the game, which might encourage more and more women to join due to being more comfortable.

You might think it's self segregating and it not needed, but obviously some do feel it to be beneficial. And considering there exists an open league where anyone can play, and OLO ratings already exist, there's just not much of a downside to have this additional league.