Sexism in chess

Discuss anything you like about women's chess at home and abroad.
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MJMcCready
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by MJMcCready » Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:10 pm

Nick Burrows wrote:
Mon Nov 29, 2021 2:52 pm
Without wishing to downplay women's expeiences of sexism in chess. I would suggest that the largest driver of the disparity in numbers of male and females continuing to play the game as they get older, is down to the male propensity towards the single minded pursuit of goals at the expense of all other facets of life. In short, men are more obsessive.
Women are not the only gender to experience sexual harassment in chess. Males are on the receiving end of it too, usually from other males.

Nick Burrows
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Nick Burrows » Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:31 pm

MJMcCready wrote:
Fri Dec 03, 2021 12:10 pm
Women are not the only gender to experience sexual harassment in chess. Males are on the receiving end of it too, usually from other males.
Please explain.

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MJMcCready
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by MJMcCready » Fri Dec 03, 2021 1:39 pm

Frankly I'd rather not! Perhaps it's best to conclude that chess players who pursue women often find their endeavours are given scant regard whereas chess players who pursue men, especially young men, and also very young men, sometimes end up with Interpol chasing after them!

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JustinHorton
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by JustinHorton » Fri Dec 03, 2021 2:49 pm

Is it possible that this thread could be kept reasonably clear of idiocies
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."

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MJMcCready
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by MJMcCready » Fri Dec 03, 2021 3:27 pm

I thought that was your forte Justin?

Matt Bridgeman
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Matt Bridgeman » Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:52 pm

FIDE’s fairly quick response to some tasteless commentary yesterday; https://www.fide.com/news/2008

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by LawrenceCooper » Wed Sep 28, 2022 1:10 pm

Matt Bridgeman wrote:
Wed Sep 28, 2022 12:52 pm
FIDE’s fairly quick response to some tasteless commentary yesterday; https://www.fide.com/news/2008
They tolerated such comments for nine rounds but better late than never.

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David Shepherd
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by David Shepherd » Wed Sep 28, 2022 3:30 pm

Link to article on BBC website

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-63062092

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Chris Goodall
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Chris Goodall » Wed Sep 28, 2022 5:41 pm

His female co-commentator was feeding him those controversial lines and laughing about it.

FIDE canned him for pointing out that the WGM title literally rewards "playing well for a girl", and is designed to.
Donate to Sabrina's fundraiser at https://gofund.me/aeae42c7 to support victims of sexual abuse in the chess world.

Northumberland webmaster, Jesmond CC something-or-other. Views mine. Definitely below the Goodall Line.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Wed Sep 28, 2022 6:39 pm

I rather doubt if he was "canned" for any one single comment, from the reports I have seen.
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Keith Arkell
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Keith Arkell » Wed Sep 28, 2022 8:39 pm

Chris Goodall wrote:
Wed Sep 28, 2022 5:41 pm
His female co-commentator was feeding him those controversial lines and laughing about it.

FIDE canned him for pointing out that the WGM title literally rewards "playing well for a girl", and is designed to.
My good friend Fiona did an excellent job of combining keeping the show ticking over with quizically dealing with the sexist's offensive remarks.

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Chris Goodall
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Chris Goodall » Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:43 pm

I'm sure she did, but the phrase everyone has picked up on is "chess is maybe not for women", and she literally put those words in his mouth. And it's kind of a verbal hand grenade, because if you take "not for women" to mean "not an environment that caters for women, at least at the professional level" then most people, including most women, would agree. There are committees dedicated to finding out why that is and fixing it.

Maybe Smirin actually did agree to commentate on a women's event while not believing that women could play chess. I don't care about his commentary career. I find it quite convenient that the last straw for FIDE was when he suggested that FIDE might be the biggest sexists in the room.
Donate to Sabrina's fundraiser at https://gofund.me/aeae42c7 to support victims of sexual abuse in the chess world.

Northumberland webmaster, Jesmond CC something-or-other. Views mine. Definitely below the Goodall Line.

NickFaulks
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by NickFaulks » Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:10 am

Chris Goodall wrote:
Wed Sep 28, 2022 10:43 pm
I'm sure she did, but the phrase everyone has picked up on is "chess is maybe not for women", and she literally put those words in his mouth.
Also, English is not his first language, perhaps not his second. Nor Fiona's. The sentence "chess is maybe not for women" is not natural English and, as Chris says, could be distorted by the interpretation. We just don't know.
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Roger de Coverly
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Roger de Coverly » Thu Sep 29, 2022 1:12 am

NickFaulks wrote:
Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:10 am
[ The sentence "chess is maybe not for women" is not natural English and, as Chris says, could be distorted by the interpretation.
The words can be rearranged

chess is not for women maybe
maybe chess is not for women

I would expect there are enough examples to dismiss this as a generalisation.

Mick Norris
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Re: Sexism in chess

Post by Mick Norris » Wed Mar 29, 2023 4:24 pm

Keith Arkell wrote:
Wed Sep 28, 2022 8:39 pm
Chris Goodall wrote:
Wed Sep 28, 2022 5:41 pm
His female co-commentator was feeding him those controversial lines and laughing about it.

FIDE canned him for pointing out that the WGM title literally rewards "playing well for a girl", and is designed to.
My good friend Fiona did an excellent job of combining keeping the show ticking over with quizically dealing with the sexist's offensive remarks.
Smirin is back according to this tweet :roll:
Any postings on here represent my personal views

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