The changing representation of women in esports
Esports has been a traditionally male-dominated space for years. The stereotype of the teenage boy playing video games in his room does not ring true in 2021. The current statistics show that women make up 45-50 per cent of the gaming audience yet they only account for 30 per cent of the esports audience. That number is growing every year and women are beginning to carve out a much-needed space in the industry. It isn’t just the playing and streaming games that makes up the esports industry – there are also opportunities in esports based media companies, news outlets, esports betting operators, tournament organisers, sponsorships, and more. All of these industries are hiring more and more women each year. A lot of this is due to the hard work of women and esports organisations that are already in the industry, who recognise the issues that they faced and are helping create a better space. One of these organisations is PlayVS. They are a company that helps schools develop esports programs for their students. Their recent Game Changers initiative is focused on different aspects of diversity and inclusivity. This year they are focusing on women in the esports industry. They are...