So... yesterday I got banned from playing #Chess on an international level because trans woman have a physical advantage in...
*looks at notes*
thinking
ok.
@fuchsiii What I don't understand is why you don't take the Judit Polgár's route and compete with men if you really think there is no such advantage. According to the document you linked, “[t]here are no restrictions to play in the open section for a person who has changed the (sic) gender.”
In more general terms, I don't understand why only one woman (that I know of) did that. Why do women-only chess competitions even exist?
@josemanuel @fuchsiii women's tournaments and women's titles were ostensibly introduced to encourage more women to play. they work, to that end; plenty of women compete in open tournaments, but reports abound of harassment and sexism at every level, from fellow competitors to tournament organizers and officials. FIDE has routinely shown disregard for these concerns. meanwhile, women's tournaments are a way to compete while avoiding (most of) that. so it's not just a matter of skill
@bloodhail If women don't refuse to participate in women-only competitions, things will never change, and, at some point, people in general will start wondering whether it is indeed a matter of skill.
@josemanuel @bloodhail @fuchsiii sometimes women want to play chess, not actively constantly fighting for her rights or entitling an activism protest while playing.
They just want to play, without minding harassment and uncomfortable situations. This is why safe spaces exists most of the time.
They shouldn't need to mind about this while playing but they sadly have to.
It's also sad that trans women find distress even in these spaces.
@alien If what you said (i.e., “sometimes women want to play chess” and nothing more) was true, then why would they do it professionally? Why do they participate in tournaments with prizes instead of playing for fun in parks or local clubs?
What women who refuse to play open tournaments want is not simply “to play chess,” but to have a greater chance of getting that prize money. Unfortunately, that attitude harms all women, because at some point, like I wrote before in this very thread, people will interpret that cowardice and convenience as a lack of skill associated with their sex.
If you don't want to see it, that's fine with me, but I've said all I wanted to say on this matter and I think I've made myself sufficiently clear.
