Controversy Arises Over Sexism Discussion Stirred by Indian Chess Player Divya Deshmukh's Instagram Post

An 18-year-old chess player from India named Divya Deshmukh has brought attention to the issue of sexism in the sport through a post on Instagram. Deshmukh, who holds the title of International Master, expressed her frustration with the fact that comments on her chess videos often focus on her appearance rather than her skills. She shared the post after competing in the Tata Steel Chess tournament in the Netherlands, where she experienced behavior from the audience that bothered her. The tournament organizers showed their support for Deshmukh and their commitment to promoting women in chess. Experts believe that her post has sparked an important conversation about the treatment of women in the chess community. Deshmukh explained that she has been receiving hateful comments about her appearance since she was 14 years old and wishes that her chess skills received the same attention. Many people have shown their support for Deshmukh's post, with some noting that even seemingly innocent comments often have underlying sexist attitudes. The rise of online tournaments and streaming has made women players more vulnerable to sexist comments from mostly male audiences. Chess already has a poor gender balance, with women making up only 10% of licensed players worldwide. This gender gap is attributed to the lack of access, opportunity, and support for women and girls in the sport. There is a common misconception that men are naturally better at chess, further perpetuating biases against women's abilities. A study conducted by researchers at New York University found that a majority of parents and mentors believe that girls have lower potential in chess compared to boys. Chess player and coach Nandhini Saripalli has experienced the consequences of these biases firsthand, both in her own chess career and as a coach. Society's lack of confidence in women's chess abilities leads to less support and opportunities for female players. Online trolling contributes to the perception that women's chess is not taken seriously. Female players have to work harder to prove themselves and often face sexist judgments. Even renowned chess player Susan Polgar has shared her own experiences with sexual harassment and assault in chess. Chess is seen as a space that allows for predatory behavior due to its one-on-one nature. While there has been progress in terms of equality in chess, it will take time for women players to have equal influence on and off the chess board. Removing socio-cultural barriers and increasing the number of women-only tournaments can encourage more women to participate in chess and help change prevailing perceptions.