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I saw a small criticism of The Queen's Gambit about how all of Beth's male competitors ended up being respectful and encouraging. I think the criticism was that this is unrealistic, that women in real life usually have a hard time getting respect like that.
I totally agree that that isn't the universal experience for women in male-dominated settings, but I honestly really really loved that aspect of the story. If the idea was to be completely realistic, I guess it fails. But I think presenting it idealistically was better.
No doubt that women in patriarchal societies, especially in male-dominated academic, work, and competition settings, suffer a lot and men can be very condescending, rude, harassing, etc.
But I have had so many men in my life, from childhood onwards, who recognized my potential and valued and respected me as a person.
A lot of those men were teachers and professors. Many others were classmates, peers, coworkers.
A lot of those men were teachers and professors. Many others were classmates, peers, coworkers.
I had a lot of academic trouble from childhood on up, primarily due to mental illness and home life. But no matter how poorly I was doing, I always had a teacher in my life who was treating me with kindness and trying to get me to do better. Many of these teachers were men.
Beth's world in the series-- a world where the best of the best lose gracefully to a young woman and then compliment her and help her-- is a fantasy. It is not a world most women live in. But I don't think there's anything wrong with portraying it idealistically.
I don't think there's anything wrong with letting women, and young girls, have a glimpse of a fantasy world where almost all men are gracious and kind and helpful and not brought to a toxic rage in the face of being bested by a woman.
I also think it's good for men to see this as well, to let them think about their own behavior and whether they live up to this fantasy standard. And to think about why men overall being respectful and helpful is only a fantasy to begin with.
Yet another contemplative film criticism tweetstorm no one is ever gonna read or care about because I never did make anything of myself as a writer and have let down all the men who tried to help me become great when I was young. 
