I have been wondering for a while now why chess is so male-dominated.

Agree, Josh. In fact, female mind is more effective on strategy games that depend on multiple-move plans and require all the alternatives to be analyzed. Chess is the master of such games and if they intend to play it, women are very tough players. I once knew a girl who was the champion of Istanbul Chess Tournament among universities and though she was not a "genius" it was next to impossible to beat her for very experienced and good male players.