Netflix‘s hit show The Queen’s Gambit focuses on a female chess whizz battling it out to be the world’s greatest player in a male-dominated sport.
That may have been set in the 1950s and 60s, but new research suggests today’s young women face a similar gender bias — because they are seen as having less potential than their male counterparts.
Worse still, that belief comes from their parents and mentors, according to the study, published by the American Psychological Association.
‘It’s disheartening to see young female players’ potential downgraded, even by the people who are closest to them, like their parents and coaches,’ said lead researcher Sophie Arnold, from New York University.
In 2020, just 14 per cent of all US Chess Federation players were girls or women, while the sport has also been mired in sexual assault claims.
Research: Female chess players are seen as having less potential than males, a new study has found. Worse still, that belief comes from their parents and mentors (stock image)
Netflix ‘s hit show The Queen’s Gambit focuses on a female chess whizz battling it out to be the world’s greatest player in a male-dominated sport
More than 100 high-ranking female chess players and coaches recently signed an open letter about ‘sexist and sexual violence’ in the male-dominated chess world.
They said it was ‘one of the main reasons why women and young girls, especially in their teens, stop playing chess.’
The new study claims that young female chess players also face gender bias when it comes to trying to compete.
In response to an online survey, 286 parents and mentors of 654 children who were on the US Chess Federation mailing list said they thought girls had less potential than boys.
This was especially the case if they believed that brilliance was required to succeed in chess, the researchers said.
Ninety per cent of the adults questioned were men and 81 per cent of the children were boys — which further highlights the size of the gender disparity in the sport.
‘Gender bias also may prevent girls from even starting to play chess competitively if their own parents and mentors aren’t convinced that they will succeed,’ Arnold said.
The research also showed that parents thought girls had a less supportive environment than boys, although the mentors/coaches disagreed with this stance.
Regardless of this view, neither thought that girls would be more likely to stop playing chess because of a lack of support.
Researchers cautioned that the results do not reflect the opinions of the general public because those who took part on the survey were involved in the chess world.
In response to an online survey, 286 parents and mentors of 654 children who were on the US Chess Federation mailing list said they thought girls had less potential than boys (stock image)
The study also did not include enough mothers and female mentors to establish if their views differed from those of fathers and male mentors, they added.
Nevertheless, Arnold said the research showed there is more work to be done to address the gender bias within chess.
‘Continued structural support for all female players is needed to improve girls’ and women’s experiences in chess,’ she said.
‘Our research also suggests that bias can come even from those closest to girls.’
The study has been published online in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
