I think they elevate it. Their presence at tournaments, as coaches, as models of endurance and manners when treated like garbage is one example. Judit Polgar comes to mind. From when she began playing there was sexism (a GIRL was playing a man's game)! It got worse as her winning percentage rose. Then, racism (she's Hungarian). Next, religious prejudice (she was Jewish). Next, post-puberty, unwanted sexual advances. They all sound to me like defensiveness. The same thing happened/happens when women enter a male enclave whether it be STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics-related fields), auto racing or truck driving, to name a few. Over the years here I've read threads asking who's the hottest female chess player (one male responder said he doubted women rated male chess players by the same criteria), others speculated if women thought about chess the same way as men, or how they'd do in mixed tournaments versus men. Former race car driver Danika Patrick was often seen in revealing clothes; Bobby Labonte never appeared that way. In "Letters to Star Trek," the question was raised that if it was necessary for female crew members to wear miniskirts to perform their duties why didn't men wear tank tops and shorts for the same reason? The more women become commonplace in the chess world the sooner Neanderthals will become extinct.
MEET THE ‘CHESS TWERKERS’
This is a layered topic, and I appreciate the thought you've put into it. Female chess streamers, like any influencers, bring their own unique flavor to the chess community. While their content might not always focus on the technical aspects of chess, it can still serve a purpose—creating visibility and drawing in audiences who might not otherwise engage with the game. If their approach resonates with viewers and encourages more women and girls to explore chess, that's undeniably a positive impact.
However, the challenges you mentioned—such as the toxic comments female players often face—highlight the need for a more inclusive and respectful environment in online chess spaces. The presence of these streamers could help shift the narrative, making chess more approachable and less intimidating for women. It's not about diminishing the game but expanding its reach and breaking down barriers.
What matters most is the balance. If their content inspires curiosity about chess and fosters a sense of community, then they're elevating the game in their own way. But if it veers too far from chess itself, it risks overshadowing the essence of the sport. Ultimately, the chess world is big enough to accommodate diverse voices and styles.
Most female chess streamers’ content seems to revolve around facets of their lives having little or nothing to do with chess. Their IG and X feeds – text and audio as well as visuals -- emphasize facial and bodily beauty, wardrobes, and sometimes their dating lives. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/162ieJ821y/
So I coined the phrase, “Chess twerkers” for these young influencers, even though their content is 100% G-rated and they don’t actually twerk on camera. (I’m not talking about Haussernot, whose feed resembles OnlyFans with an occasional chess prop thrown into the mix.)
Might they be good for chess after all? If fashion and makeup and snippets about dating are what floats female viewers’ boats, then those chess-twerk girls might be building a female-centric social media space that helps bring more women and girls into the chess community. Especially since many of the usual online chess forums such as YouTube channels and social media pages are highly unfriendly toward women. If you watch livestreamed or YouTube chess games in which one player is female, you will usually find hundreds of comments from incel men fixated on the idea that some kind of seduction is occurring across the board – despite the actual game film providing ample evidence to the contrary.
What do you think of the girl chess streamers? Do they elevate chess, or diminish it?