Life of a Female Chess Player Pt. III: How it all Started

It is black's turn. 

Ok yeah it wasn't my best game.  I was just a beginner in this picture. This was my first year playing chess competitively. 

Yo guys I think its cool y'all are talking about the game. This is a chess website. lol

None taken. I totally understand. Although I've never seen any of these phantom women pages... *shrug*

Of course, I'm totally opening myself up for commentary. Hence the struggle to post such details about my life. 

Great question. One I'll admit I'm not quite sure how to respond to. I don't expect respect or reverence for my gender. I mention only because it has impacted my experience as a chess player. I'm trying to understand why women are so underrepresented in the chess community, and by sharing my story, I'm hoping that other women will share their stories so we can collectively learn how to make women feel more comfortable in chess environments. I guess I'm just pointing out a problem that I've experienced, and that I've noticed the few other female players that I know seem to have experienced in hopes that discussion will lead to action to solve the problems. Sorry if that is convoluted or confusing. 

Unfortunately, what you just said is based on problematic stereotypes about women that are oppressive. Nice guy syndrome is ridiculous nonsense. 

Slay girl, slay. You should start your own blog.

lol

I don't get it. The whole premise is lost on me. Fewer women (/girls) play chess than men (/boys) so therefore it's an ordeal for a women/girl who does? Huh? Nope. I don't get it. Sorry.

As far as I can tell, it was all in your head. I didn't read anything that suggested there was any kind of real problem. For example, you appeared to have no reason whatsoever for assuming the thoughts of the librarian. Maybe he just hadn't seen you there for chess club before and maybe he was simply embarrassed (if he even was, another assumption you made) for incorrectly assuming that you weren't there for chess. Isn't the "worst case" scenario there that you were correct. That just brings me back to my original point. What's the problem? He thought you didn't play chess because you were a girl and then when he found out that you did he was nice and introduced you to the coach? Oh no! How traumatic for you! Huh? What's the problem exactly?

Also, what's offensive about being asked if you're gay? The most offensive thing about that is the manner in which I assume it was asked. If that's the case then it can't be very offensive now can it? Isn't the worst case scenario there that they actually think youre gay? Erm, so? Is there even a problem with just lying and saying "Yes, I am."? I just don't get it. That's probably what I'd say if somebody asked me that. Hell, I might say any number of things and not think about it ever again. Who cares?

So, I think I've made my point fairly clear. Basically, I think that you've imagined a problem and then written about it as though it was a huge thing... Really you just left me quite confused.

Random other things from the thread that drew my attention:

• JV? I have no idea what that is. Why would you assume that people would?
• The whole school watched the team play their (American) Football games? What? Why? America can be very weird...
• If you have a job at Microsoft you have a good job? Huh? What nonesense is that? Why is a job there better than a job somewhere else?

I'm not an expert but I think black can already pack there. How it ended?

jv is "junior varsity" is a seperate team comprised of younger players. the idea is you start at jv, do well and get to be part of the main team.

yes, football is a big deal in American schools.  the Op is probably exagerating a little to say Everyone went and watched the game.  some students aren't social and don't hang out for extracurricular stuff.  "me"

Microsoft is known as a particularly good place to work, with good pay, benefits. but you know there's the hype and then there's reality....

I can't and don't want to comment on the problem of girls in a chess club.

could it be that the problem with this is that its in a High school?

I hated my high school years. but being a volunteer in  scouts,etc  I learned alot about it. kids have issues.  this comes out in different ways. in HighSchool, being called gay is the end of the world, later for most of us its "meh- so what".

so... perhaps this problem with the teenage years is a big reason why women aren't in chess as much.  to many bright and brilliant girls give up, when their issues combine with a bunch of competitive boy issues.

then, the only thing I'd say to the OP is to work to get beyond the issues.  you are certainly welcome in chess.  A good chess player doesn't chase off people, because he knows its important to have thoughtful opponents.

the games not nearly as fun if you don't have that.

That makes a lot of sense and I agree completely with the theory in general. I just don't get why a girl of any age would think such a thing about chess specifically. It's a board game... It's not physical sport... It's a board game! But yeah, I'm getting off track. I completely agree. That seems highly likely.

Thanks a lot for answering my additional questions! I was almost thinking that the students were made to watch the games, but clearly that isn't the case. That makes it stranger if I'm honest. I simply didn't know that about Microsoft. To be honest, I thought he was talking more about being highly payed, what you said makes a lot more sense than that.

I just took a look. I agreed with you. White is just a piece up. I decided to check with my engine too. It also agreed. White is just a piece up.

Thank you so much! I (barely) tried to start a blog but I was too lazy, lol

I'm thinking there might be some cultural nuances that you've missed. In American high schools, homophobia is still a huge factor at play. If someone even believes you to be gay you can suffer consequences such as bullying. This was also several years ago. A lot has changed in the few years since I graduated high school, so it may be somewhat different now. People are a lot more accepting of homosexuality. 

Football is a big deal in the state of Texas in particular. Don't ask me why. It just is. JV is junior varsity. Sounds like you don't have a ton of cultural knowledge about America. Maybe female chess players are treated better where you are. I don't know. 

Of course, it is possible I misinterpreted the situation with the librarian. But I don't feel like I did. 

Obviously.

Just found it funny to see deluded ass-kissing self-proclaimed Casanovas are still around.

Oh wow, you're really arrogant. You did misinterpret the situation with the librarian. There's no two ways about it. He treated you nicely and you're using it as an example of female chess players being treated badly!

No, I don't have a "ton of culteral knowledge about America" and I don't feel the slightest bit of shame about that. To be honest, people like you make me almost feel proud of it.

"Football is a big deal" lol... I don't doubt that. It's also not relevant to anything I said. I was talking specifically about people watching students play "Football" (/sports in general). If you weren't ignorant to cultures other than your own, which apparently you consider quite the insult, (or you were simply capable of understanding basic English) then you would have understood that.

Your first paragraph is so laughable that I wouldn't even know where to begin commenting upon it so I won't bother. You're not worth my time anyway. You will almost certainly incorrectly assume the ways in which I believe it to be ridiculous so don't waste your time referring to this in a reply.

You're just a whiny little girl who wants people to believe that the world is against you. You probably even believe it yourself... FYI, if you've played more than 3000 games of chess (which you have on this website alone) and received some coaching but play chess at the standard that you do, then you can't possibly be smart as your profile states. It simply isn't possible.

Thanks for truncating the quotes. I makes reading/navigating far easier and a bit more pleasurable.