The world’s top chess federation is banning trans women from competing until a review is made – and the defenses are sexist assumptions and shaky science
It is true, of course, that men dominate the upper echelons of chess. But why do you think that is? Do you really think it’s because men are brainier? Do you really think it’s because men and women’s brains are hardwired differently? Or do you think it’s because structural sexism stops a lot of young girls from getting into chess? Sexist assumptions seep into us from a very young age: a disturbing 2017 study found that girls as young as six.
Forget trans women for a moment, should there be separate women and men’s categories at all in chess? That’s a little tricky. Because far fewer women go into chess than men there’s certainly a strong case for keeping some separate men and women’s categories for the moment. But the idea that you wouldn’t ever see women win if the categories were mixed-sex is misguided.
Perhaps men like Short are so keen on a separation of the sexes because they’re worried about their own performance. Look at air rifle shooting, for example, a sport where men and women are evenly matched. “Shooting wasn’t always split by gender,”in a 2021 article. “In the 1976 Olympics, the American Margaret Murdock won a silver medal in the free shooting event … after that the men decided to split shooting up into men and women because they didn’t like to be overtaken by the girls.
Again, I think the question of whether men and women should play in separate categories in high-level chess is tricky. However, I can’t see any case for stopping trans women from competing in the women’s category. Ultimately women’s chess isn’t helped by gatekeeping definitions of women. It’s not helped by excluding trans women; it’s helped by encouraging more women to get into chess and dismantling gender stereotypes.
: “It’s well established that, if a plaintiff has ‘concrete plans’ to visit an animal’s habitat and view that animal, that plaintiff suffers aesthetic injury when an agency has approved a project that threatens the animal … Doctors delight in working with their unborn patients – and experience an aesthetic injury when they are aborted.” Yes, you read that right, a judge just compared women’s bodies to wildlife habitats.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Royalty and a Nobel Prize winner: Who'll be attending the Women's World Cup final?While some international figures will be flying to Sydney for the England v Spain Women's World Cup final, others have chosen not to make the trip.
Read more »
Gianni Infantino urges women to ‘pick the right battles’ in equal pay fightThe Women’s World Cup pot is $110m while Qatar 2022 was $440m as Infantino said: ‘with men, with Fifa, you will find open doors’
Read more »
A-League looks to cash in on Australia's Women's World Cup successWhen this year's A-League women's season kicks off in October, it will mark the first time it's started before the men's comp
Read more »
What can netball learn from the FIFA Women's World Cup?As the Matildas capture the hearts and minds of Australians with their run at the FIFA Women's World Cup, netball can only dream of generating that kind of interest for its own major tournament, writes Brittany Carter.
Read more »
Matildas set for final game at Women's World CupAfter its semi-final disappointment, Australia looks to beat Sweden and confirm a 3rd-placed finish.
Read more »