New restrictions imposed by the game's international governing body vividly demonstrate the links between misogyny and transphobia.
The modern rules of chess were devised around the year 1500, when the queen morphed from the weakest to the strongest piece on the board. Some players at first called it “the madwoman’s chess game,” as the queen was derided as overly ambitious and crazy. But her strength made the game far better, and the new rules were widely adopted into the chess we play today.
Gender essentialism in chess also goes back centuries. When a pawn reaches the end of the chessboard, it can “promote” into any piece. Over 99% of the time, the pawn turns into a queen, with only a small fraction turning into other pieces. But that would mean the foot soldier, assumed as male, would have to change genders. In the book"A History of Chess," published in 1913,
: “The pawn had to change its sex ... the moral sense of some players was outraged.” To avoid that, the new queen was often given a different name,Resistance to both rules stems from the assumption that women are inherently inferior: a vivid manifestation of the links between misogyny and transphobia. But just like “mad” and “woman” have been dropped from “chess,” anxiety over pawn promotion is also long gone.
Chess events aren’t usually separated by gender. A majority of them are open to all and, those that do have a women’s category, typically run alongside an open category. Still, I am frequently asked why there are any women’s events at all. One answer is that they’re fun. I’ve played in, organized and hosted many. Another is that those occasional events provide a safe space and engaging community for women and gender minorities.
Chess is no longer a fringe activity or isolated subculture. And with the game's newfound popularity, we players have earned the attention of the world. It’s our moment to demand leaders that think like grandmasters beyond the board. If we want real-life Beth Harmons to emerge, we must protect and celebrate the most vulnerable members in our community with foresight and kindness. The game isn’t much fun without queens.Jennifer Shahade is the author of "Chess Queens," a two-time U.
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