Being a professional esports player means making a living from honed skills and experience, not by entertaining the audience. Tons of players dream about getting into esports even at a young age as it is the highest accomplishment to show one’s skills. Yet, even though almost half of the gamers worldwide are females, there are a few women on the professional esports scene.
Reasons for underrepresentation
Missing role models
Most esports tournaments are open to everyone no matter their gender. However, the scene is heavily male-dominated – this applies to players and other areas, such as management and members of various associations. . Women rarely see a career path in esports due to the lack of any women they could identify with and relate to.
Gender-specific socialization
In society, many activities are divided as meant for males and females. This leads that people rarely even assume that women could be interested in video games and thus developing the stereotype even further. However, statistics claim that nearly 50% of computer gamers are females which suddenly makes this stereotype look outdated and stale. On the other hand, the situation on the esports scene is different as women are massively underrepresented there.
(Not the) target group of the gaming industry
With a stereotype of a lack of gamer females still alive, gaming studios also do not perceive this audience as a target group for their game design and marketing. This can be easily seen in many games that clearly are designed for young men and teenagers. Such creators’ attitude turns off many women from playing certain games as they find them greatly unappealing.
What’s needed for the change
Role Models
Introducing and showing esports as a possible career path – both from playing or administration aspect. Getting involved in any activity and being open and public about it can gradually change demographics in the esports environment. Having certain workers in the industry that would share their experiences and would encourage others to take the step into esports.
Gender competence
Making esports more attractive to all genders is required to reduce the unnecessary gendering of the space. Everyone, no matter their gender, should be perceived as potential readers, viewers, or players. Getting away from men-oriented content may seem difficult at first, but this would greatly help to attract other audiences to the esports scene too.
Support and resources
Representation and fewer assumptions are just as important as showing support and dedicating resources to women in the esports scene. It is having a quality approach where resources are dedicated to the teams that actually need them instead of supporting only the ones that already have enough. Undoubtedly, proper management and coaches can greatly help a team to succeed and if at least a single team breaks the ice, others are to follow.
Current esports teams
With the industry gradually becoming more diverse and inclusive, some all-female teams begin to rise – there are some of them!
G2Gozen
Julia “Juliano” Kiran
Petra “Petra” Stoker
Zainab “zAAz” Turkie
Michaela “Mimi” Lintrup
Anja “aNNja” Vasalic
Dignitas Fe
Emmalee “EMUHLEEL” Garrido
Amanda “rain” Smith
Melisa “Theia” Mundorf
Stefanie “Stefani” Jones
Juliana “Shwliana” Maransaldi
Version X
Katherine “karra” Lee
Kiara “Milkyway” Blue Kukilakilaokalani Makua
Natalia “Natty” Jackson
Rachael lyn “Rush” Hang
Naomi Suavola
Tenstar Nova
Asma “Lirlia” Boughida
Lucy “Sliicyy” Tran
Clara “Cla” Rossi
Nouhara “Ninou” Marcos Oraha
Rachel “RacheLL” Kujawa
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