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 editorsFriman, Usva; Ruotsalainen, Maria; Ståhl, Matilda

Parent publicationRoutledge Handbook of Esports

Parent publication editorsJenny, Seth E.; Besombes, Nicolas; Brock, Tom; Cote, Amanda C.; Scholz, Tobias M.

ISBN978-1-032-53150-2

eISBN978-1-003-41059-1

Publication year2025

Publication date24/09/2024

Pages range540-550

Number of pages in the book764

PublisherRoutledge

Place of PublicationAbingdon

Publication countryUnited Kingdom

Publication languageEnglish

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4324/9781003410591-58

Publication open accessNot 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.


Keywordselectronic sportsgame cultureequality (fundamental rights)inclusiondiversityequality (values)participationdiscriminationharassmentplayers (non-music)best practices


Contributing organizations


Ministry reportingYes

JUFO rating2

Preliminary JUFO rating2


Last updated on 2024-14-09 at 21:07