Esports must deal with hara ssment and s exism
0Esports must deal with hara.ssment and s.exism.
With the #MeToo movement underway, the tide is rapidly turning for women who have been subjected to sexual assault, harassment and discrimination. In record numbers, predators in politics, entertainment and business are being held to the fire by their victims, lambasted publicly and, in many cases, exiled from their industry.
As this swift wave of progress continues to dominate news cycles, those of us in esports must take a hard look at how we treat women and commit to taking steps to make our space more inclusive and free of sexual harassment and abuse.
While esports is a male-dominated space, women play a major role in the gaming community. Adult women represent 31 percent of the video game-playing population, making up a greater portion of the population than males under 18, according to the Entertainment Software Association. Nearly 30 percent of esports fans are female, according to Nielsen research.
We’re going to see a lot more women in esports in the years to come, and we must embrace and support their inclusion and success. Here are some actions we in the industry can take to achieve a brighter future.