Women Still Face Inclusion Challenges in eSports

By Ildyko Ang

Photo credit to: Fortune.com

When it comes to video games, men and women are both physically and mentally on a level playing field, despite what the misogynistic trolls online have to say. Furthermore, nearly half of all gamers in the world are women, according to a study conducted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) in 2012. This raises the question: where on earth are all the women in eSports?

Women have, in fact, been trying to make their mark in the male-dominated eSports industry, but it is a gruelling journey for many of them. A full-time partner streamer for live-streaming video platform Twitch for games such as Dota 2, League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, 26-year-old Reinessa* has been no stranger to online harassment. She is also not disclosing her surname for precisely that same reason. “I realised I had become so accustomed to it, I hadn’t even realised what was happening. Whenever I use voice chat, I get hit on and I get told to go back to the kitchen,” she says.

Photo credit to: Intel IQ Australia

An even bigger, unaddressed issue is when people bring a similar mindset to eSports events, she added. “I have had to navigate a lot of awkward situations. It’s hard to tell exactly why someone wants to get a drink with you. While eSports events are all about networking, we know that isn’t always the reason,” she says.

Even with all the odds stacked against female gamers, Reinessa believes that there will be a dramatic cultural shift in the upcoming years with the prevalence of smartphones and gaming accessibility.

*Reinessa only goes by her first name to protect her anonymity online.