The International Chess Federation (FIDE) says it is temporarily banning transgender women from competing in its women’s events.
The FIDE said individual cases would require “further analysis” and that a decision could take up to two years.
The move has been criticised by some players and enthusiasts.
Many sports governing bodies have been working on policies towards transgender athletes, but chess does not involve comparable levels of physical activity.
I have no clue about chess, but why is there a separation between genders?
From what I’ve gathered it’s about making chess more accessible to women, since a very large majority of chess players are men, which can be uncomfortable. Which makes the ban even more ridiculous.
So they’re assuming women are less intelligent than men? Separating men from women just so women can be “good enough to access it” definitely sounds like it
I clearly said it’s about being comfortable getting into the chess community not “being good enough”.
Whatever, mental sports should NOT be segregated. And wtf you mean “comfortable”?
Us women are allowed to compete with men though. We choose not to. Take that as your will.
Why exactly?
Okay, but why does it make women uncomfortable? It’s chess.
I understand enough about biology that AMAB people typically have more muscle mass, but unless we are talking about chess boxing (personally, I wouldn’t step into a ring with any boxer, I would actually be killed), separating divisions by gender as opposed to skill level is stupid at best. Banning trans people is outright bigoted. There is no question. Unless the chess grand masters or whoever had that stupid idea think women are just, what, less strategically minded? Do they think women are more stupid than men? Why ban trans women AND strip them of their awards? Nah, this is bigotry in action.
I was referring to the ratio of men making women uncomfortable. I 100% disagree with the ban.
Yes. I do not understand why women are uncomfortable. Is it a vocal point by the competitors, or are the ruling body making assumptions because “woman fragile?”
I dont know how it is now but for a long time men in professional chess have been condescending at best when women play. They simply did not take women seriously and made it well known to female players.
Isn’t this just assuming “women aren’t smart enough to compete with a biologically male brain”?
When we’re talking about physical sports I understand why there’s debate, but why TF are they doing it in fucking mental sports?
I’d say this is a textbook example of the Patriarchy at play here. Use of institutions to systemically undermine women’s agency.
I just never thought that an international Chess organization would be the one to do it.
