03-08-2013, 07:05 PM
I believe that the reason girls stop playing chess is complex. There is not one answer. I started a chess club in my school and while it is well attended and has some very enthusiastic members - they are all boys.
I don’t agree with Alan who suggests that
Girls will continue with activities even if they are not the best. There is evidence to support this. Also girls can be very competitive so it’s not that girls do not like competing. The girls in my classes in school will happily play chess when I hand out chess sets at the end of term but they will not come along to the school chess club. When I ask them why they won’t come along to the club the main reason seems to be that they have other activities/clubs on and do not have the time. Why do they not choose chess? Unfortunately amongst the majority of young people chess still has a bad press as it is still perceived as being ‘uncool’ to play chess at a serious level. Plus for girls chess is still perceived as a male activity (look at the photographs from any chess event and you can see why girls would think this). I am doing my best to change that perception but it is proving to be a huge challenge.
Girls only events are an interesting idea idea but where are we going to get the girls from? I would suggest perhaps targeting younger girls in an attempt to engage them fully with chess before other activities at secondary school, for example, attract their attention.
I don’t agree with Alan who suggests that
Alan Jelfs Wrote:My theory is that women will tend to persevere with a hobby or sport if they are "good" at it, while men are quite content to play sports they are "OK" at.
Girls will continue with activities even if they are not the best. There is evidence to support this. Also girls can be very competitive so it’s not that girls do not like competing. The girls in my classes in school will happily play chess when I hand out chess sets at the end of term but they will not come along to the school chess club. When I ask them why they won’t come along to the club the main reason seems to be that they have other activities/clubs on and do not have the time. Why do they not choose chess? Unfortunately amongst the majority of young people chess still has a bad press as it is still perceived as being ‘uncool’ to play chess at a serious level. Plus for girls chess is still perceived as a male activity (look at the photographs from any chess event and you can see why girls would think this). I am doing my best to change that perception but it is proving to be a huge challenge.
Girls only events are an interesting idea idea but where are we going to get the girls from? I would suggest perhaps targeting younger girls in an attempt to engage them fully with chess before other activities at secondary school, for example, attract their attention.