march 26 (3/26)

What is Esport

• Esport refers to professional computer game tournaments.
• It has become a global phenomenon similar to traditional sports.
• The industry is male-dominated, reflecting gender and racial imbalances found in traditional sports contexts.
• The debate continues on whether esport should be included as an Olympic event.

Major Asian Esport Tournaments

• 2022 Asian Games included various popular esports titles:
  • Arena of Valor
  • DOTA 2
  • FIFA-branded soccer games
  • Hearthstone
  • League of Legends
  • PUBG Mobile
• Esport was part of the 19th Asian Games held in Hangzhou in 2022.

Esport Statistics and Growth

• The esports market is projected to grow to $5.18 billion by 2029.
• Worldwide, over 410 million people engage with esports, including viewers and gamers.
• 6.6 billion hours are spent watching esports videos every year.
• There are 2 million athletic scholarships available for colleges in North America.

Current & Emerging Issues in Esports

• Integrity Issues:
  • Concerns about performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and e-doping.
  • Issues of match-fixing, hacking, and gambling.
• Stigma and Violence:
  • Negative perceptions about esports participation.
  • Associations of aggressive behavior with esports athletes.
• Gaming Addiction and Mental Health:
  • The impact of gaming addiction on players.
  • Importance of mental health awareness in esports.
• Social Inequality:
  • Disparities in earnings between male and female players.
• Racism and Ethnicity:
  • Examination of racialized ideas and structures in esports.
• Gender Issues:
  • Concerns about masculinities and harassment faced by female gamers.

The Gender Gap in Esports

• Women make up 46% of the gamer population, but only 5% of professional gamers are women.
• Out of 476 esports players at the 2022 Asian Games, only 8 were women.
• Female gamers often face judgments about their skills compared to male counterparts, and experience higher rates of online harassment.
• Approximately 30% of game developers are women.

Gendered Portrayals in Video Games

• Examination of the number and portrayal of female lead characters in games.

The Gender Pay Gap

• No women are listed among the top 400 highest-earning esports players.
• Example:
  • Johan "Notail" Sundstein: $7,184,163 earnings
  • Sasha "Scarlett" Hostyn: $444,461 earnings.

Geek Masculinity

• Defined as a specific form of masculinity emphasizing intellectualism and technical skills over physical strength.
• Often intersects with narratives of technological mastery within gaming.

Case Study: Kim "Geguri" Se-yeon

• A professional Overwatch player known for her skill in the game.
• Faced accusations of cheating that were later disproven.
• Her experience represents struggles for recognition and respect among female gamers.

Aftermath of Geguri’s Case

• Despite harassment, she gained significant support and recognition from fans.
• Issues of sexism were highlighted through discussions around her appearance and skills in gaming.
• Debates about the existence and necessity of gender distinctions in gaming communities ensued.

Post-Feminism in Esports

• The viewpoint that feminism has achieved significant success leads to a culture emphasizing meritocracy in esports.
• Challenging the notion that gender plays a role in gaming performance presents both liberating and complex implications for female gamers.

Summary of The Case of Geguri

• The accusations highlight entrenched male dominance in esports.
• Geguri's performance challenges traditional gender norms by questioning the links between biological sex and gaming performance ability.