Here's my 2 cents.
Poker is psychological game. Trying to make women more "comfortable" with the game just doesn't seem important to me when the whole nature of the game is to try and manipulate your opponents. Unless of course, you want to make them more comfortable to take advantage of supposedly "weaker players".
As a 27 year old woman, I have occasionally been looked down on at poker tables. But aside from one early tournament experience, it hasn't been an issue. The one tournament where I did have my negative experience, it pissed me off in a way that led to taking second in the tournament. So, I really can't complain. I understand that I am perceived differently, and treated differently at poker tables being a young women, and I love having that advantage. One thing I've read about a profitable poker table, is making everyone happy, comfortable, and relaxed. If I'm friendly and joke around, everyone is having a good time and might not pay quite as much attention to the game. I have a greater positive effect because of my gender. This whole gender inequality thing is an ADVANTAGE women have. If women are too sensitive and don't see this, well then frankly they need to toughen up or the game of poker might not be for them.
I've recently started playing in Ladies Events. So far, I've only played in 2 tournaments, but I've realized it's a fairly tight knit community that is a lot of fun to be a part of. Originally, I wanted to play in a Ladies Tournament because I thought it would be easier. The play is different, but I won't call it easier or harder. I will keep playing, because the Ladies Events are FUN!! I think they are just a great way to have a good time, and are definitely an important part in involving women in poker.
Everyone should be on board involving women in poker. Think about what an influx of new players would do for the game. The overall skill at the tables would go down, not because the players are women, but because the players are NEW.
As far as women being afraid to play live because of the fear of negative reactions, well, those are fears every new player has. There's no need to make it out to be a "poor girl" type reaction. I'm sure a guy sitting down at a poker table for the first time is just as nervous about screwing up and wanting to be respected as a player. If these players get good enough, they'll eventually learn that sometimes it's better to be viewed as a bad player.
Someone made the comment that they don't know of any women that play online. I feel that I've encountered more women that play online then I usually do when I play live. When you play online, you don't actually know who is a man or a woman.
In conclusion, Ladies Events should definitely be encouraged because it will draw new players into the game (and they are just plain fun). However, I just don't agree with trying to change phrasing or get men to "watch their language" at the table. I just don't care, and these are non-issues to me. The issues brought up about women in poker mostly annoy me. By giving it attention, it's automatically saying that women aren't capable of thriving in the current poker environment. Well, frankly, any woman that is too scared or intimidated can just stay out of the game. I don't have a tolerance for weak people, and this is just a card game. If you can't handle a poker game, how exactly are you making it though the rest of your life without getting pushed around?
P.S. Forgot to include that men that play in Ladies Event are just jerks. Do you want your wives/girlfriends intruding on guy time?? Let us have our girl time.
