When The Queen’s Gambit came out on Netflix, I was immediately obsessed. The well written plot, developed characters, and elements of fantasy came together to produce a really enjoyable watch. Having loved the series so much, I naturally took to watching other people analyze and dissect it. Some of these analyses, however, presented an interesting critique with which I simply cannot agree, and I am happy to see that many others in the comments felt the same way. The main critique in one of these videos was that The Queen’s Gambit was historically inaccurate because it didn’t accurately portray the sexism a woman in a male dominated game would face in the 1960s. It also discussed the portrayal of the “Loner Genius” trope from a woman’s perspective, somehow concluding that the writers depicted a male fantasy of a female genius, and lack a more feminist depiction. I take huge issue with this.
In regard to the topic of sexism and its use in the series, let’s assume for the sake of this essay that it was inaccurate, and lacked a more obvious inclusion of that social obstacle. To be completely honest, I am so tired of seeing female protagonists whose main (or one of their main conflicts) is facing sexism. Women deal with so many valid life experiences that are not rooted in that, and so to drag down any female protagonist with this as a plot point feels like we can’t have a life devoid of sexism, even in the media we consume. One of the elements I actually loved most about the show was that it accepted the possibility that a young woman could make it so far in such an industry as chess, and that, rather than give Beth or themselves, a hard time for losing to a woman, her male counterparts just congratulated her the way they would any male opponent. It was refreshing. It felt like it gave a woman the opportunity to win the way a man would. The outcome of her matches was not a result of her gender, but of her skill.
Now, if we were to truly depict a chess match in the 1960s featuring only one woman climbing to the top, there would truthfully be more prejudice against her participation, but this is not to say that the The Queen’s Gambit failed to represent sexism at all. I’d like to point out that throughout the series, sexism was addressed in minor and appropriate ways which included it without allowing it to swallow the plot whole. Most notably, in Ep. 3 the press interviews Beth, making it a point to mention what a feat it was to be a great female chess player on her way up the ranks, and Beth immediately corrected the attempt to make her successes about her gender. In fact she refused to let herself be defined by that, because she didn’t want to be “the first great female chess player.” She just wanted to be the best chess player. Period. I for one think that’s much more empowering than playing into the stereotypical anti-sexist female power trope. In another press interaction, Harmon’s knack for fashion and beauty was questioned, as reporters and male opponents made claims about her being too “glamorous” for chess, and she immediately dismissed these accusations. This writing insists that there were judgements passed on Beth, but they were unfounded and unable to affect her, further elucidating how they appropriately framed elements of sexism without allowing it to become a massive plot point.
As for the perspective provided on the “Loner Genius” trope, I happen to believe it portrayed this archetype in its purest form. When the archetype portrays a man, which is most often, traditionally he is not weighted down by societal setbacks at any point in the piece, only mental and intellectual challenges. I feel that giving way for sexism as a bigger talking point not only would’ve made the show seem much more preachy and political, but it would’ve undermined Beth in such a way that would’ve defeated the purpose of her genius. It would once again bring focus to the difference in her experience solely because she is a woman. Furthermore, the show serves as a wonderful escapist fantasy for women to picture themselves in a situation where sexism isn’t a constant concern, even for a prodigy and chess master, not to mention that it provides an opportunity to teach sexist men how they should treat and respond to their female peers.
It thoroughly frustrates me that the video analysis claimed she was a female genius through the lens of a male fantasy, just because she was beautiful and always looked her best, even when on a drug-induced downward spiral; however, I’d venture to counter this critique by pointing out that Hollywood movies or shows directed by men often imply that smart women are not as feminine or as conventionally beautiful as other women, and that if a beautiful woman is a genius, she will use her beauty and brains as a weapon against men, as seen in the classic Femme Fatale trope. To show a young woman who embraces fashion, makeup, and hair care while also having a reserved, intelligent disposition is actually a really unique and important thing for women. Not to mention, Beth having her hair done and legs shaven while in the midst of a breakdown isn’t too inaccurate to women, seeing as we often fix our outward appearances during rough times either to feel better, gain some sense of control, or put on a brave face, making this scene quite realistic. It is also worth noting that Beth turns down any romantic involvement with all the male friends she sleeps with and they still beg to help her win matches just so they can say they were her friends and played a part in helping her reach success. I’m not aware of any man who considers that his fantasy, so she is definitely not an image of male fantasy masquerading as a loner genius.
My final, and likely most fervent complaint on the claims of this analysis, is that at the end of the video, the creator claimed that Beth mostly played to male characteristics, and that they would’ve liked to see her embrace more female strengths like emotional intelligence and vulnerability. All this implies is that being sharp, ruthless, commanding, and competitive is something reserved for men, and that if women are not emotionally vulnerable they are not implementing the right characteristics. It can often be a very fine line to write a strong and balanced female lead. You waver between portraying a strong woman as having exclusively male-associated traits, which then implies that only women who are basically men with boobs can succeed, and portraying a strong woman as having exclusively female-associated traits, which then implies that you must be ultra-feminine or be confined to only positive “female” traits in order to be an effective portrait of feminist success. Frankly, I think that by giving Beth stereotypically “masculine” traits, while also stressing the importance of beauty for her character as an indicator of personal growth, as well as placing her relationships with her adopted mother and Jolene — the only other prominent female characters — at the forefront, the creators really walk that line perfectly. This is especially true when considering that while the men in her life teach Beth about chess and other practical life lessons, these women teach her about deeper life meaning and strong emotional connections. Beth Harmon has elements both masculine and feminine and is neither a caricature of the perfect feminist icon nor the “woman written by men.”
To put it plainly, not only did The Queen’s Gambit manage to perfectly capture sexism in a relevant yet subtle way, but the series did a phenomenal job of writing a strong female character who embodies the genius trope while feeling like a real, believable, and genuine person.
The Drama Drive-In 