monkers
Legendary Member
It is about opportunities, just as separate competitions in chess, billiards, darts, are about opportunities for women. It's also about raising the profile of the women in those industries and sports and encouraging participation from underrepresented groups. Which is one of the things that a protected category for women in sports, and awards and prizes just for women, does.
Women in STEM is about opportunities to succeed leading to a career that will be a level playing field with men. For the comparison between STEM and chess competitions to be relevant, it would need to be the case that women in chess lessons were being taught to later be on a level playing field with all others - an open field. You won't be able to see this, so just remain befuddled and bemused.
Otherwise you are saying that women require special arrangements to make sure they can win by removing the competition. It's insulting to women.