Was discussing with a fellow female CCer, and this is yet another angle that's not being presented.
Women simply don't have the physical intimidation factor that men have. I understand that some men get intimidated by having to approach women for dates and what have you. But I seriously doubt that something like "OMG, she's bigger than me, hairier than me, and capable of raping and killing me" has crossed many a man's mind. I'm close to positive such thoughts never enter men's minds. But they do enter a woman's mind on a regular basis. Your average man hasn't the tiniest bit of fear when a woman steps into the elevator. Your average woman is at least a bit more cautious in that situation.
There are these thoughts and feelings that women carry around on a daily basis. The larger the community we live in, the more the thoughts enter consciousness.
Just take the thoughts and feelings, and multiply them by 8 and that's how it feels to be a woman at any given poker table, until she's comfortable with her situation and surroundings. Multiply it by hundreds and that's your average woman who maybe has only played online or in home games, and that's how it feels to be your average woman entering a standard "everybody's welcome" tournament.
It's one thing to want equality, but where do you really see equality? Huh? I don't see it. Ignoring the whole intimidation angle, on average a woman makes less for the same job as a man while paying more for necessities. Heck we frequently have to pay more for the same basic haircut or trim in the same shop!
Equality? What? Where? I don't see it.
Since women make up half the human race, and poker really isn't the sort of thing where brute strength or literal viciousness is required, shouldn't even more of us be playing poker than are? Shouldn't even more be playing in tournaments?
So someone came up with a solution to the problem. The women's only tournament. Where any woman can sit, be comfortable, and learn the ropes of playing in a poker tournament without the physical fear and intimidation factors. Then a handful of jerks decide they're going to have "Men's equality" and at least one is a ringer. That's not brave, it's not even remotely cool. It's cowardly. Downright cowardly. Win or lose he's a coward. A yellow bellied sapsucker to be sure.
If this helps I can make an analogy. Geeks vs. Jocks. Yeah you see every imaginable type of male in a tournament, but imagine if only jocks played. Let's just say you're a geek of the skinny variety with a sinus condition and glasses. Real stereotypical, but they do exist.
Would you willingly surround yourself by a bunch of jocks? Your personal experience with them has been limited to having your lunch tray thrown to the floor, being crammed into your locker for answering a math problem correctly, and having them attempt to forcibly remove your underpants the hard way(atomic super-wedgie anyone?). So, yeah, you'd be a damn fool to willingly rush into what's easily perceived as harm's way.
It's not so different for women. We aren't stupid. We know that not every man's lurking and waiting to victimize us. Still, we know it happens. We just don't want it to happen.
Also, the day a man has to have security escort him to his car because he wore a cute outfit and laughed at some jokes is the day I'll buy that poker's completely equal.
