Poker: Women Mixing It With The Men
If you agree that poker is a uniform playing field, then you must agree that it should be open to all. Poker is a game of skill and only requires a keen mind, a chair and a chip. However, history and Hollywood have always presented an image of the complete poker player as a strong, ruthless male. At the same time, disparaging references to “Poker Babes” in many areas of the game has done nothing to promote female credibility at the poker table. Indeed, a web site of the same name perpetrates the myth that ladies involved in poker are no more than glamour icons or bimbos, and the women on these sites do little themselves to oppose the gender stereotypical image.
Yet, serious female poker players have been involved in the game almost as long as men have, and ever since 1977 have competed in their own event at the WSOP as well as having access to the main event and supporting competitions. It is fair to say that in the past many women may have been intimidated by the thought of entering a casino alone, but the picture now seems to be changing with the openness of the game via the Internet and the existing lady players who are earning admiration at the poker tables.
Barbara Enright is no doubt the most prominent lady player to date. She already has three gold WSOP championship bracelets to her credit, and has made history by being the only female to ever make the final table of the main event at the World Series of Poker in 1995. She also finished in the money in 2005, having reached Vegas via a $10 qualifier and, in 2006 was the first woman to be enrolled into the Poker Hall of Fame. No doubt she will not be the last, as many women have now become professional poker players and take on their male brothers both online and in live poker events. Not only are they competing, they are winning and, as more women become successful, their profile in the game increases, encouraging more and more ladies to get involved.
Interestingly, the female perspective of the issue is divided. In a recent poll carried out by Woman Poker Player Magazine, only a slight majority voted that there was no longer any need for women only poker tournaments. This result can be deciphered in a many ways. Either, the women enjoy exclusive competitions and would not want to forgo them. Possibly some women feel that male attitudes have not developed enough that they feel wholly welcome at a male orientated poker table, or it could be that the poll was hijacked by men!
Soon – maybe this year – a woman will take the main event at WSOP, and ultimately there will be an balanced divide of the sexes amongst the worlds top players. It should all be a matter of who the best poker players are, and not what style of shoes they wear!
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