Emil O W Kirkegaard

17/n Why are the top chess positions so dominated by men? Only one woman has ever reached a top ten ranking (Judit Polgár). I think that at least two (average) psychological sex differences contribute to this disparity.

18/n First, studies have quite conclusively shown that men are more variable in their cognitive abilities than women are. They have more 'Dumbbells' as well as 'Nobels.' I won't go into the evidence here, but I find the evidence convincing that this is true.

19/n From this a natural consequence follows. Even if there is no average difference in ability between men and women, men will still be overrepresented among the absolute best individuals (as well as the worst, but we don't notice the worst).

20/n The second possible contributor is the fact that men are possibly more competitively minded. And that men are more likely to focus narrowly on specific tasks, whereas women tend to want to live more balanced lives.

21/n This is something that Camilla Benbow has found in the lifestyle choices and preferences of the extremely intellectually gifted. Even among intellectual genius women, they are more likely to say that they want to lead a balanced life with many facets to them.

22/n To become the absolute best at something, you have to focus on that thing rather intensly. If women are less likely to focus extremely intensly on one thing, that may also be a contributor to their underrepresentation at the absolute top of performance.

23/n I can't claim to know for sure, but it would be interesting to see what would happen. Tell me what you think. Thread over. People who have previously been interested in this sort of question: @RealYeyoZa @AndrewCutler13 @hbdchick @KirkegaardEmil @phl43 @ImHardcory