Considering that around 47% of esports audiences are female, you’d be forgiven for thinking girls and women would be better represented within the sector. Sadly, female esports athletes remain the exception, while things aren’t much better behind the scenes. However, things are moving in the right direction. Below are just seven of the ways that women are being welcomed into a once predominantly male industry.
- Female Content Creators Are Taking Charge of the Streaming Community
Some of the most prolific gaming streamers are female. Take Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter as an example. After first casting on YouTube, she’s amassed more than 3.5 million loyal subscribers. A further 3.6 million follow her on Instagram. In 2020, Hofstetter signed an exclusive deal with YouTube, where she regularly uploads content centered around her love of Fortnite. The award-winning streamer remains one of the most-viewed personalities on the internet, with some of her streams amassing average audiences of more than 300,000.
- Women-Only Esports Organizations and Leagues
Although female players are a rarity in S-Tier competitions, there’s an increasing number of women-only leagues popping up. Today, established organizations like Faze Clan and Guild Esports boast all-female rosters. What’s more, there are several high-profile women-only leagues and tournaments, including the VCT Game Changers Championship and the ESL Impact Circuit.
- Inclusive Initiatives
While representation is certainly improving, the video game and esports industries need a little help bringing diversity to gaming, both on-screen and behind the scenes. Fortunately, organizations like Women in Esports are on hand to help. With a growing community of more than 8,000 members, the organization strives to improve the representation of women and other gender groups within the competitive gaming sector.
- Behind the Scenes
Sometimes, girls need a little encouragement to engage with games. Thankfully, there are many initiatives designed to help coax female players into a career in gaming. Women in Games is a non-profit international initiative designed to drive more girls into gaming careers. Established in 2009 at a time when just 6% of those working in games were female, the organization aims to bring that number close to 22%.
- Representation in Video Games
One area where video games and esports are excelling is diversity on-screen. Today, female-heavy MOBA casts are the norm, with the likes of Valorant boasting an impressive roster of female agents. The likes of Sage, Reyna, and Jett have become modern-day video game icons and regularly appear at major tournaments. Keen to see who from the Valorant cast your favorite players have picked? Check out the latest Valorant schedule at 1337PRO.com here.
- Female Commentators and Shoutcasters
Once an exclusively male arena, there are more female esports casters than ever before. Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere is a favorite within the League of Legends community, having hosted major events like the League of Legends World Championship. A more recognizable face is Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden, with the Dutch content creator a staple of international Dota 2 events.
- Game Awards Recognition
Although they’re once again in the minority when it comes to shortlists, more female esports personalities are being recognized by major awarding bodies, with several high-profile personalities and coaches making the grade come awards season. In 2023, Christine Chi picked up the ‘Best Esports Coach’ gong at The Game Awards for her work with Evil Geniuses’ Valorant roster.
While relatively few female players make the shortlist for best player awards, the likes of Leslie ‘Fuslie’ Fu have previously picked up nods like the ‘Content Creator of the Year’ award. After establishing herself as a prolific Twitch streamer, Fu was enlisted by 100 Thieves to create exclusive content for them.
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