Why do we have woman categories?

I've been reading the comments in this thread with interest. My own comment? How 'bout we let the women decide the issue.

this

Why do we have senior events??????? What's this junior stuff????????? Why are there national titles???????? What the hell is up with these categories?????????????

knew you would be here.

I'm just stunned that a Hungarian woman is higher rated than anyone from Chad! Don't they know how to play chess in Chad? Do they even know what logic is in Chad?

 u mean like you?

 I'm not fat  wink wink..

I also have the option of expressing my opinion. A WGM could easily defeat anyone in this thread - except maybe Reb - and yet some of us are carrying on about whether they deserve a GM title. I always find this amusing when this topic resurfaces. Maybe the title's given for promotional purposes. Maybe the title will go away like the notion that a woman can't be a CEO. Until it does, show some respect for superior ability.

I think one possible reason is for encouraging women into the field. If anyone has to play quality chess (chess played at IM strength and beyond) one has to be full time into chess - meaning they have to take up chess as a profession. At the beginning only men were playing chess. The Soviets were renowned chess players - all men. Women started entering the area several years later. By then there were already major male dominant players.

If women were asked to compete in the mens' circle, they may get dwarfed by the existing playing strength and would never win money which in turn meant they cannot afford to have it as a profession. So different tournaments for women-only.....Seperate tournaments mean seperate prize fund.

Secondly i think - until 20 or 25 years ago, women always used to stay at home taking care of the family while men work for the living. Probably such a women's tournament helps encourage women to come out ?? I don't know........

You can disagree with the title and respect the playing strength of those who have it at the same time.  Who you can beat at chess has nothing to do with the nature of these titles.

what crap music ? not if you are a paid member

Well, in any case, the idea of being rewarded for one's sex is sexist, and that's kind of annoying; most especially since sexism against females gets so much attention, but on the male side it seems virtually unrecognized, even though it's so obvious in this case. I'm sorry that that bothers me a little.

This has absolutely nothing to do with my chess skill; the fact that tons of women could beat me... what, would my opinion be more valid if I was higher rated or something? I'm saying I shouldn't have to do more work than a woman to get a title and recognition just because I'm a guy, and I think that's pretty reasonable.

I can respect a WGM's skill -- that's not the issue --, but not the fact that she is probably getting more attention than men equally rated, no.

Novelist Walter Tevis took up the gender question in Chess when he wrote "The Queen's Gambit". It's main character is an American-orphan, girl-genius, who plays ferocious chess, even as a "beginner"-- never once doubting her ability to play Chess because she just happens to be a girl. Back in 1963, American girls were often told, "Girls don't play Chess." They were programmed to be Prom Queens, or drama queens! Fashion-plates or pom-pom girls! It wasn't fashionable to be "smart."

"Gender is irrelevant"-- in playing Chess-- especially in the 21st century world of International Chess-- where truly, the game is about mind-to-mind competing on 64 squares with a handful of warring game pieces. GENDER IS IRRELEVANT IN CHESS. Brain-power wins out, not brawn. Women can and do play chess as expertly as men....

If you've not read this exciting Chess novel, read "The Queen's Gambit"-- one of the finest books on the nature of genius and the people who play chess, do so. Irresistibly compelling! (There are LOTS of chess games, moves, endgames,and interplay in this book). You will be impressed with the sophistication of Chess knowledge incorporated in the writing of this masterful book about a young girl obsessed with Chess. I was so inspired by its heroine, Beth Harmon, I am on a mission to generate more interest in women playing chess, in everyone playing this timeless game. 

What's my next move? Finding Private Equity/ Venture Capital funding to back "Sweetly Deadly", a captivating screenplay/ feature film. The spec screenplay is attracting A-list Actors, international directors, and a brilliant composer. If anyone out there is interested in supporting my quest-- to make a successful and brilliant film about Chess--one that appeals to cross-gender, cross-generational International audiences, please do inquire. "Sweetly Deadly" is ready to market-- It's a film like: "Hanna", "Slumdog Millionaire", "Juno", "An Education", "Vanity Faire", "Lolita", "Anne Frank"-- "Sweetly Deadly" will check-mate the competition! Finally a coming-of-age Chess thriller that celebrates the "female" underdog! Saoirse Ronan or Elle Fanning would be fantastic as the lead character. Contact: ZephyrFilms@aol.com 

If she can't beat Reb, she shouldn't call herself any kind of GM. It doesn't matter whether I or anybody else in this thread sucks at chess or not. 

That's impressive.

 You gotta admit, post 171 is the truth.

WGM only requires 2300 FIDE and I think some norms as well. 2300 FIDE is only FM if you are male and against FMs I score about 50 %.  I wonder if a WGM has a sex change will she ( ? )  be demoted to FM ?