Recently...
An article was posted (then immediately removed) on a prominent esports organizations website on why women aren't in esports. The communities response was negative, and rightfully so.
The piece attempted to explain a real problem, but did so in a way that was laughably (and tragically) out of touch with reality. It depicted esports as something that women are inherently opposite too, citing biological and emotional “realities” as just some of the reasons the men to women ratio is so imbalanced in our community.
See, it’s easy to understand a problem exists, but it is much more difficult to find and explain the reasons or the solutions. So much to the point that, when the discussion comes up, journalists and writers end up saying things that don’t make any sense at all and are completely untrue.
Yes, while esports are obviously heavily male dominated, there are women in esports. In more areas than you might think. Casters, hosts, managers, content directors, and even (drum roll...wait for it…) competitive players.
L-R- Mystik, missharvey, Gillyweed, Remilia
Take for instance Halo player Katherine ‘Mystik’ Gunn, or CSGO player Stephanie ‘missharvey’ Harvey. Casters and hosts like Jaycie ‘Gillyweed’ Gluck, or League of Legends player Maria ‘Remilia’ Creveling; these are just a few prominent women in the esports industry that have made successful waves.
Women’s presence in general is growing, but has yet to reach the same equality as men. Let’s explore some reasonings brought up as to why the male-to-female ratio in esports has yet to reach 1:1.
What do the numbers say?
Let’s look at some numbers.
According to esportsearnings.com ‘Mystik’ is the highest earning female player AND the highest earning player in Halo: Reach averaging around $122k in tournament earnings total so far. ‘Remilia’ became the first female to qualify for LCS with her team Renegades:
So we know they exist and we know that there are many that are successful (even if their success is challenged in "heartless ways"). Why can't there be more?
The usual suspects
Here are the points that the afformentioned article brought up in an attempt to explain the issue. They mean well, but fall flat when trying to actually explain why. The original explanations generalize half of the population based off assumptions and antiquated beliefs surrounding “the female perspective” and assert that women less positioned when it comes to esports, which they are but not due to reasons they have any control over:
1. Gender stereotypes and sexism- Let’s put it out there. Misogyny exists. We don’t need statistics to prove that. The trolls are out there trolling and they are more vicious to women than men. A study by PLOS ONE highlighted by Wired found that literally “trolls are losers” stating that ‘Men who may already be losing in the game don’t like women encroaching on their turf’. Basically they’re threatening to their female opponents because they suck and they don’t want to say they lost to a girl. And women are the emotional ones? Hmm.
This is a valid point. A lot of people would give up on joining a community that seemingly doesn't want them, but we can't assume everyone would. As a community can't saddle all the blame on gender inequality on a group of negative trolls- the issue (and the reasons why women don't compete) are more complex than that.
2. Lack of support to female gamers- The support is there, but sometimes it’s not abundant or readily available, and sometimes it’s not the the ‘right’ kind of support. Sponsors and gaming organizations want to appeal to their core demographic, men between the age of 21 and 34. They’re not appealing to women. They’re not trying to gain female viewers which in turn would gain female gamers.
Gender-only esports leagues and tournaments have sprung up and, while on the surface female-only tournaments and teams may make female gamers more comfortable, giving them a ‘safer’ atmosphere, why should they be limited to those? Just because “traditional” sports are segregated as such? How obscene. “Traditional” sports are segregated due to physical capabilities and weight restrictions due to the gender. The same does not apply to esports.
When women aren’t treated the same, it speaks a loud message: “We don't’ care if a woman is good or bad at the game, as long as she looks good”.
Esports has already proven it hasn’t and won’t ever conform to the same ideals as ‘traditional’ sports. The wrong kind of support, like this awful Hearthstone tournament, and this all female Dota 2 team that was paraded and advertised as essentially a sex symbol to viewers (again, the 21-34 male demographic), these harm more than help gender equality in gaming because they’re being treated completely different than the male-only teams.
These male-only teams are solely criticized on their skill and gameplay-nothing else. When women aren’t treated the same, it speaks a loud message: “We don't’ care if a woman is good or bad at the game, as long as she looks good”. Can you imagine if an all male team was treated like this?
Play area for a women-invitational Hearthstone tournament in China summer 2015
3. Other priorities and values- The assertion that women have different priorities in life that steer them away from esports is an argument that can be applied to men as well, but never is. Isn’t it fair to say that both men and women want to make money, be good at something they love, and receive recognition from it?
We can't begin to attribute most woman's decision NOT to chase esports as proof that they never will.
These are the reasons why anyone chases the esports dream, men and women alike. Sure women make decisions differently than men. Sure one woman may have different values than one man. Why does this relate to esports? It doesn’t. If a 16 year old boy decides to quit high school and pursue a career in competitive gaming and a 16 year old girl with the same skill level would rather pursue a different career path, so what?
We can't begin to attribute most woman's decision NOT to chase esports as proof that they never will. If anyone attempted apply this logic to men (claiming that the majority of men don’t compete in esports, therefore esports aren’t for men) they would be ignored and rightfully so.
4. Heightened emotional response- Really? It’s 2016 and we haven’t gotten passed the “she’s on her period” excuse? Women are emotional. Men are emotional. Infants are emotional. Animals are emotional. Have you ever seen a cat video of one snuggling up to its recently deceased pal? Of course you have, everyone frequents cat videos on reddit. That cat is emotional. Have you ever seen a man with his newborn baby? Have you ever seen the eyes of a man look at his bride for the first time as she walks down the aisle? Or the tears flowing from a man when has to give a eulogy at his father’s funeral? Those are called emotions. And everyone has them.
Just because women have more estrogen in their body than men (FYI, men have estrogen too) doesn't make them too emotional to handle something like competitive gaming. Human emotion is what differentiates us from robots. Saying that women are too moody to compete in esports is the oldest insult in the book. Men rage quit all the time. Is it because they’re moody? Maybe. Or they could have just made a huge mistake and thrown the game for their teammates, or their mouse could have just died, or this could have been their 50th loss.
These circumstances exist for women too, but would likely be attributed as a result of their gender. Not all women go immediately to crying after a loss, or complaining after a bad play. Gender simply has absolutely no relation to skill level in gaming. Some women take the game seriously, learn from their mistakes and move on.
5. Boring games- Where is it written that female competitors produce less exciting and entertaining matches than men? The pressure to perform in the public eye or on a stage is just as stressful, if not more, to women as it is to men. Any lack of skill or aggression is based on the individual, not their gender.
Aggressive women exist. Skillful women exist. If you watch an online event ,could you immediately point out which player is a women based on their performance? Of course not. All of these reasons are plausible in a case-by-case basis. But to categorize every female gamer as such is nothing short of idiotic.
The real reason
Why aren’t there more women in esports?
Think of it in simple terms; maybe some women just don’t want to. Maybe women don’t want to play competitively for their own personal reasons. Or maybe some women love the game but they may just not be good enough to compete at high quality levels. Maybe women assess the esports scene, and say it's simply not worth it?
It’s a tougher world in gaming for women than it is for men. Constant harassment from misogynistic strangers in the community doesn’t give much motivation to continue competing. Why are we criticizing women for their understandable hesitation in participating in a community that so often isolates them because of something they can't control?
But, since when is talent and skill rated on a scale of discrimination. Black athletes make better basketball players? Ever met Dirk Nowitzki? Only men can coach football? The Buffalo Bills recently made history hiring Kathryn Smith as their assistant coach. Instead of raging on the trolls and pinning women against women let’s take a step back and look at the big picture.
We don’t ask anything of men in esports but one thing: be good at the game and we will like you. We will adore you, and pay you, and make fan clubs about you. There is no catch. No hidden gauntlets of persecution or sexism.
Women have come and gone already in the young-but-old esports scene. Some have quit because they can’t handle the drama, the trolls, the threats. Some because of personal differences, some because they lost interest in the game. Did they leave because of their gender? Was it something they did wrong? Is every female competitor destined for the same criticisms?
Just recently, one of the most popular Heroes of the Storm players, Wade 'Dreadnaught' Penfold, retired as a pro player. Did anyone attribute his decision to stop playing due to his gender? No, that would be absurd. The moment we stop attributing women’s decisions as a product of their gender is when things will actually change. It’s not women they are failing esports, it’s the other way around.
Esports demands the best and brightest players, and in return for their practice and dedication, their lives can be changed forever. We don’t ask anything of men in esports but one thing: be good at the game and we will like you. We will adore you, and pay you, and make fan clubs about you. There is no catch. No hidden gauntlets of persecution or sexism. No constant accusations of their legitimacy or overzealous attention to physical appearance. That’s the esports deal all players can expect. All players except women.
Women deal with a hostile “not-really-worth-it” environment that cuts down esports dreams before they ever have a chance to grow. Despite this, the only way the female presence can grow and become more ‘mainstream’ is if girls out there start playing, despite the realities that make there esports aspirations less attractive to chase.
If you want to do it. Go for it.
Don’t let your dreams be dreams.
F**k the haters.
It's hard now but roads less traveled always are.
