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.
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?”
Oh man, where to start.
It’s great that you’re asking these questions. Just don’t make the mistake that many people in the majority do: Ther’s a half-sinked boat. The people under the water are gasping for air, everyone is saying “for the love of god, those people are suffering!” and those at the top are like “huh? I don’t see the issue from here…”
Just because you don’t belong to the group the assertion is made about, doesn’t mean there is no issue.
If we have established that, then all is good.
Now, why would women be uncomfortable? Because chess is a brain “sports.” I’d rather call it game. And many smart men, but many smart men have an unconscious bias against women. They may not realize it, but they’d mansplain, talk down or ignore valid points. Are all smart men like that? Of course not! But you don’t need all of them to be like that. It only needs to happen enough times.
It’s like all-women gyms. Are they a statement about all men being creeps? No. But many women, unfortunately, get harassed enough times in co-ed gyms to say “you know, what, I’m done. I’ll stop going to the gym. Fuck that! What’s that? An all-woman gym? Sign me up!”
And of course, not all women are the same. Many women have the strength and endurance to tell all those guys off over and over and be fine. But I won’t blame those women who don’t want to go through that.
(And yes, I don’t agree with the ban either. It’s so ironic…)
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?
Because it was all bad faith transphobia all along
