Chess is a game known for its strategic depth and intellectual challenges. Recently, 18-year-old Indian chess player Divya Deshmukh shed light on a concerning issue that goes beyond the chessboard – sexism and misogyny in the world of chess.
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In a candid Instagram post after participating in the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament in the Netherlands, Divya expressed her disappointment with the way women chess players are treated compared to their male counterparts. Despite her impressive performance, having won the Asian women’s chess championship last year, she faced unnecessary scrutiny.
Divya revealed that while male players were praised for their game, female players like herself were often judged based on irrelevant factors such as their clothes, hair, and accent. In her post, she shared her frustration, stating that spectators seemed more interested in these superficial aspects than in the actual moves and strategies on the chessboard.
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Despite playing well in the tournament and being proud of her achievements, Divya faced a biased audience that paid more attention to her appearance than her skills. This kind of scrutiny, she argued, is not faced by male players, who receive recognition primarily for their performance in the game.
She highlighted the unfairness she experienced during interviews, where discussions veered away from her games to personal matters. Divya emphasized that such biases contribute to the underappreciation of women players in the chess community, and she called for equal respect.
Divya Deshmukh pointed out that women athletes, despite the progress in pay scale and recognition, still face sexism. She noted that female players endure unfair judgment and hatred, with attention being diverted to irrelevant aspects of their lives. Divya stressed the need for women to receive the same level of respect and appreciation as their male counterparts in the world of chess.