[obstinate]

I really didn't like the comments of the tournament GM as quoted in this article.

> I understand: If I was in her shoes, and I suddenly pulled a draw of six girls one after the other, I would say also, 'What is going on here?'

Maybe in the speaker's culture, using the diminutive term "girls" to refer to professional women in a professional context is considered fine, but it's definitely grating to me. I'd be willing to give that a pass if that were all. But he also said:

> I'm sorry for Yifan, because I think she let herself down a little bit today.

I really think Yifan is in a better position to judge whether she has let herself down than Callaghan is. Together these two comments read, to me, as quite paternalistic and tone deaf. If this is how he's speaking on the record, one has to wonder if his private attitude contributed to Yifan's decision to throw the game.

[Waterluvian]

If he's not allowed to say that he thinks she let herself down, then you're not allowed to say you think he's coming off as tone deaf, right? I think that because there's an issue of gender here, we are scrutinizing every word far too much.

I agree with him. One thing I learned when growing up playing sports is that you always do your best when playing. Throwing a fit or protesting by giving up only lets yourself down. Finish the game, and then go protest.

[mmanfrin]

One person is speaking to the press about a protest to the event he organized; another person is commenting on the tone-deafness of the comment. Holding the latter to the scrutiny of the former and claiming that the latter is 'not allowed to say' what he said is an exceptionally absurd -- and frankly stupid -- argument.

[obstinate]

He's allowed to say whatever he wants, and I'm allowed to feel how I do about it, and discuss those feelings on this site.

[jonathankoren]

But apparently not without being cowardly downvoted for explaining how freedom of speech works.

[dexterdog]

Well she is supposed to be the best woman in the world by far yet the top 100 in the world are all men. She probably feels she should be competing mostly against men so she can get shots at those above her and move up.

[ianai]

I agree. Does he also call the men, "boys"? Probably not. Not that it matters whether he does as that's still diminishing and dismissive.

It's also really insulting how he said she let herself down. She lived up to her beliefs and he should acknowledge that. Instead he invalidated her choices.

[xxs]

He's British - it's not "boys" but lads.

[kwhitefoot]

That rather depends on context, age, where he grew up, to whom and about what he is speaking, etc.

[hkmurakami]

When I read your excerpt, I immediately wondered if he is British. Turns out he is, and I believe this language is pretty common in their culture, at least traditionally. I do not know whether women in he U.K. are bothered by such comments esp if the man is much older than them, as is the case here.

As for commenting on letting herself down, well he is a TV commentator. You hear this sort of being said by TV commentators in basically every sport.

[obstinate]

All too true what you say about TV commentators.

[mmanfrin]

I am really disappointed with HN that you are being downvoted. I read the article and came away with the same impressions -- that the use of the word 'girls' and the 'I think she let herself down' comes off as exceedingly patronizing.

You have made a clear argument with your comment and others have downvoted you because they disagree with you, which is not what the downvote button is for.

[timmytokyo]

Agreed. You don't hear him referring to the male participants as "boys". This type of sexist language, while probably not intentional on the part of the speaker, is one of the reasons women struggle to be taken seriously in so many professional contexts.

[true_religion]

Might it not be that men are referred to as 'boys' regularly in certain contexts but it is simply not remarked upon because there is no historical discrimination against men?

[throwaway91111]

FWIW I hear it too.

[glitcher]

These are valid points, and important to call out this kind of language given the history of sexism.

Side note: One of my biggest frustrations on HN is seeing a comment downvoted without any counterargument given, as with this one. Would any downvoters care to voice their opinions?