A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Esports (2025)
Friman, U., Ruotsalainen, M., & Ståhl, M. (2025). Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Esports. In S. E. Jenny, N. Besombes, T. Brock, A. C. Cote, & T. M. Scholz (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Esports (pp. 540-550). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003410591-58
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Friman, Usva; Ruotsalainen, Maria; Ståhl, Matilda
Parent publication: Routledge Handbook of Esports
Parent publication editors: Jenny, Seth E.; Besombes, Nicolas; Brock, Tom; Cote, Amanda C.; Scholz, Tobias M.
ISBN: 978-1-032-53150-2
eISBN: 978-1-003-41059-1
Publication year: 2025
Publication date: 24/09/2024
Pages range: 540-550
Number of pages in the book: 764
Publisher: Routledge
Place of Publication: Abingdon
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003410591-58
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Abstract
This chapter presents an overview of what diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mean and how they matter in esports. The chapter describes how esports culture upholds harmful structures and practices, including misogyny, racism, hate against gender and sexual minorities, as well as various forms of identity-based discrimination and harassment, and how this limits participation of marginalized individuals. Further, the chapter explains how these issues are connected to esports' cultural background in hegemonic gaming and sport cultures and the prevalent culture of toxic meritocracy (i.e., a false belief that everyone has an equal chance to succeed despite their background). Finally, the chapter outlines existing good practices and initiatives in promoting DEI in esports, and offers further recommendations in this area. Key highlights include: 1) Participants who do not fit the expected image of an esports player (e.g., women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people) face many barriers for participation and are often excluded from and face systematic discrimination and harassment in esports, and 2) As a new kind of digital sport, esports has an opportunity to create a culture based on DEI, and there are many good practices and initiatives promoting this goal shared in this chapter.
Keywords: electronic sports; game culture; equality (fundamental rights); inclusion; diversity; equality (values); participation; discrimination; harassment; players (non-music); best practices
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
JUFO rating: 2
Preliminary JUFO rating: 2