The Queen's Gambit was an incredibly successful attempt at imposing a feminine power view against institutional bias. It follows the story of an orphaned Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy with a mind so bright, she was unrivaled by even the best men in a male-dominated sport. She was able to revolutionize the structure and rankings of chess at the time, something she achieved by having a strong character and a passion for chess. Certainly, the society and environment at the time was not conducive to letting women express their talents— not so freely, openly, or unapologetically within a male-dominated field. It is with regretfully that one recognizes that these optimistic and empowering stories in which women are acclaimed and honored have to be created fictitiously, for the world continues to be deeply dominated by different forms of institutional bias.

However, the creation and publication of stories like these establish and promote their very own fight against systemic bias. The Queen's Gambit did not invent powerful women; plenty already exist today. What they did was create a world in which that power was remarked and esteemed by society; they created a space in which the genius of Beth Harmon was appreciated and respected, without having to resort to men for the development of that talent or fame, and without having to question her intellect on the basis of being a woman. This portrayal of aptitude and how it's received by society sends a message which subtly encourages its spectators to trust more in the power of minorities; to give them the space to express themselves, and subsequently, their due validation.

Fiction should not only serve as an escape from the harsh realities of the mundane world, but should also serve as an avenue for which to outline the future direction of our society.

And The Queen's Gambit has not only strived to do just that, but has in fact achieved it with much success. It has provided an outlet for the impotence felt by many minorities today, while simultaneously granting them with hope at what the world could one day become. No matter if we start with fiction or the real world, so long as the problems of systemic bias are being confronted somehow, we are one step closer to creating a new environment for minorities, and some steps further from repeating the tragic stories of many wonderful individuals like Jennings, Lovelace, and Franklin.