Why is this game so male-dominated?

Judge for your self:

"There are many reasons why girls play chess worse than guys.  It's hard to say if they can reach the same level "en masse" ( although many will agree the gap shouldn't be that big ). I'd like to give one that is often overlooked. The idea comes from the short stories of Jaroslaw Hasek. He had one about a very successful thief and art collector who used to dress up as an old woman - when he was asked why, he said people would never suspect a woman in passionate collecting without a good reason behind it, because they are just too practical! I think something similar happens with chess. Only truly impractical guys can spend so much time on the activity that doesn't pay much... you do have to be a bit crazy about chess! Now, if the girls could be convinced that it is more useful that socializing with friends at the mall... I think serious attempts to popularize chess with girls should be looking into ways to make it more "mainstream" - or, in other words, socially acceptable. Maybe if more colleges would be willing to give chess scholarships, that would be a good step forward. Or, if somebody could prove that a big group of kids raised their grades after starting the chess club... that would appeal to moms. In short, something practical."

http://www.chess.com/article/view/chesscom-player-profiles-wgm-camillab

I don't get the part about the art thief dressing up as a woman. He said that people wouldn't believe that an old lady was collecting art without a practical reason behind it -- and basically, the only "practical" reason for collecting art would be to steal it and make money, which was exactly what he was doing. So according to that logic, doesn't dressing up as a woman make him more suspicious?

Patronization seems to be a big part of it. Since girls aren't the ones that are likely to play chess, when they're taught it (if they're taught it) the teachers often go very easy on them as to spare their feelings and to keep them interested in chess. They think they're good until they get to a certain level and then they just stop because they aren't winning all of their games anymore. I was taught by my very competitive dad who never let me win a game, but I was very competitive also so I just kept on playing until I was the one winning most of our games. I can't speak for everyone, but this is what got me interested in chess.

Firmly believe a statistical correlation is revealed  on the bell graph as lack of female participation.........Haha

because men are smarter probably

u just have to get george clooney to play chess or that famous politician from the past that got killed in a duel because he always insulted people, famous american politician, i heard girls even have clubs were they worship him

Yeah, wasting time on facebook or browsing useless things to buy.

Most girls have no passions and no hobbies.

Male dominance is not limited to chess or even intellectual activities:  there's pretty much NO field of human achievement on which women can compete with men.

In my opinion the main reasons are:

1) Less women play chess

2) Likely they receive less support that good male players. The sponsors and sports organizations Do not take it so seriously with their careers. 

In the world there are still many inequalities between men and women. 

+1

Of course there are.

97% of workers who die or get severely injured in the workplace are men.

Networking, scholarships, and government aid and support to women.

Funding and awareness campaigns of breast vs prostate cancer.

LongIslandMark: it was not a joke, I'm serious. Try to name a field on which women do ok compared to men. Not even cooking.

Analysing it deeply is stupid.

Chess is male dominated because in Western culture women are into different things.

"Male dominance is not limited to chess or even intellectual activities: "

greater economic capacity and greater support, this is the key.

Likely if you compare men with resources against men withouth resources the first dominances in almost all fields that have been proposed against the others. And the two groups are men. 

Even from a scientific perspective, males are *typically* more analytical AND competitive (stemming from the need to provide for families including hunting and defending with force as needed) which can lead to gaming in general. Females are *typically* bent more toward the relational and emotional side of things, leading less women to fields like math and science. It isn't about brain power, but likely just the way we are wired in a general sense toward certain functions. 

Just an observation, not meant to be divisive or to downplay women. 

The reason is the brains differences... Each gender has its abilities.

Those of you who believe that men and women have different brainz: read Cordelia Fine's Delusions of Gender. Or continue to be an ignorant [-----]. I cannot control you! [Please be more circumspect - mod]

Great response!

well ofc not, i mean if evolution is a fact, its obvious it would only apply to everything else except for the difference of man and women.

I mostly like lions (not the girl ones, whatever they are called)