From IQ tests and sperm banks to "The Queen’s Gambit": a history of gifted children | Salon.com

From IQ tests and sperm banks to "The Queen’s Gambit": a history of gifted children | Salon.com

From IQ tests and sperm banks to "The Queen’s Gambit": a history of gifted children

While identifying gifted children has helped some receive needed attention, it has sent us down a dangerous path

In Netflix hit "The Queen's Gambit," we see young orphan Beth Harmon discover her talent for competitive chess. During a game played in the orphanage basement, Harmon's chess tutor, the janitor, tells the nine-year-old: "To tell you the truth of it, child, you're astounding" — contrasting her youth and naivety to her seemingly inherent gift.

The series ends with Harmon as a young woman, competing in chess competitions at the highest level. The executive producer of the series, William Horberg, has said that they're unlikely to make a second series. "Maybe we can just let the audience imagine what comes next," he told Town and Country magazine.

My research looks into the question of "what next?" for so-called child geniuses like Beth Harmon, and how the "gifted" label affects their lives.

Growing up gifted

Interest in measuring the intelligence of children grew during the 20th century. The first IQ tests were developed in the early 1900s, looking to identify children in need of educational support. Later evaluations used IQ testing but also hormonal levels, patterns of sleep, metabolism, blood markers or genetics to try to understand and quantify "intelligence". CONTINUE READING: From IQ tests and sperm banks to "The Queen’s Gambit": a history of gifted children | Salon.com