women in chess

I wonder why it is that there are so few women playing chess.com (possibly reflecting the chess playing public generally), especially when women seem more attracted to social media than men!?

I must admit given the choice, and other factors are the same like ability, sociability and sportsmanship, I tend to prefer to play ladies (but I am always a gentlemen when I do) and my experience has been mainly very positive.

All credit to pioneers of womens chess like Judit Polgar and a whole host I am barely aware of and, of course, the likes of chess.com's own Natalia Pogonina.

Submitted in hope that more women will join us.

An eminently laudable goal, John.  The forums have not faired well on this topic over the past year or two, unfortunately.

Best of Luck.

I know of several women on here. One a good friend of mine already. She has played ever since she was a kid and likes to play on here because it keeps her mind active and so she can beat someone when she plays someone live. lol :)

But over all, I agree with you that there are not very many women playing chess in relation to men. Hopefully in the future though, more women will learn to love the game.

The forums have not fared well? The forums may well be the cause.

What percentage of users are female?

I don't consider chess social media.

Even if so, what are the hours of use concerning social media for men and for women?

just to clarify wafflemaster - for the folk who ONLY play chess then chess.com is NOT social media. For those who use chess.com to chat then it is. Another question to add to your list is what percentage of users chat?

Indeed.  That, and the 1st Amendment.

My rough guess is that less than 300 people account for 90 percent of the forum posts on a site with 5.8 million members.

If 10 percent of these folks are women, that gives 30 women.  You see the problem?

And the forums are often times caustic, unfortunately.

Lastly, chess players hold VERY strong opinions, in case you haven't noticed.  On balance, it's quite a cocktail, and hard for many to drink.

Maybe forming a "Group" to pursue this issue is more appropriate?  Just a thought.

just to clarify zborg, re. social media, I was thinking more in terms of chatting while playing, adding to the persons notes and as evidenced in friends and trophies and, not in the public domain, message exchanges.

I suspect only a small portion of folk who engage in this more personalised chat also do forums. I guess I'm a rarity and do all of these (with due decorum) and love the cocktail that combines this with serious chess playing

Sorry.  Chatting while playing is an even BIGGER mine field.

Just check out the multiple "GG" threads.  

Those threads are really scary!

help me here zborg - I'm not sure what this is

I'm a woman who is active in live chess play and I have to say I've found the people I met here to be absolutely delightful.  This is an excellent chess website, plenty of opponents at any time control or rating, and tons of chess history articles. 

He's referring to the threads about saying gg (good game) after games are over. 

This is the most active one: http://www.chess.com/forum/view/livechess/gg-means-owned

But there are dozens of others.

Thanks caseyFgriffin - that is helpful. Looked at that thread and while straying of subject a bit, for what it is worth, I like to say hello at the start of a game and thanks at the end of the game (just as one does in real live chess) as that is plain being courteous - whether that then leads to further dialogue depends on the opponent.

Re. this subject, I note there have been similar threads to which I can only add we need more like jessicafischerqueen to show us it is not a man's world and chess is something we can all enjoy irrespective of gender or anything else that might differentiate humankind - that is one reason I love playing here!

It does not concern me=As long as they play well

What? Women have to play well, they can't be crap like the rest of us?

Here's on of the best and thoughtful threads on the site.

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/chess-in-art2

Probably because there's not a lot of coversation, which too often spins out of control, into the usual squabbling.

Don't get me wrong, many of the threads are hilarious, but often times at someone else's expense.

Some very clever folks post in the forums.  Myself excluded.  

Hello jrb136....I also wish more women would get involved in chess.....I love it.....I agree with Jessicafischerqueen....this is an excellent site to play chess. 

Down with the First Amendment, I say!

Guess which one of the original ten amendments (US Constit. 1787) has never been the subject of a major Supreme Court challenge!  And no looking in Wikipedia!