Sexist and stereotypical comments. Threatening behavior. insults. mock. Negative reactions linked to poor performance. Disparaging comments. Threats of rape and assault. Or stalk (stalk) on other platforms. These practices, as numerous as they are diverse and more online than in physical form, are commonplace in the world of esports for female video game players, both amateurs and professionals. While the Roland-Garros eSeries is currently taking place with an emphasis on women’s participation, france info: sports wanted to measure this fact of society poisoning the world of esports.
“Intimidation in the game affects everyone, but women are the target first,” recognizes Eve Martinello, a former semi-professional player turned esports journalist. “As in other sectors, there is a glass ceiling for women in this environment. We don’t have the same chances of success with equal skills,” says Pauline Puybareau, manager in the esports section of Women in Games, an association that promotes diversity in the video game industry.
According to the study “Female Gamers Survey” by Bryters published in 2020, 50% of gamers worldwide are women. Female representation in France is almost the same as worldwide (47%) according to a 2021 study† And according to a research conducted by Range3 that same year, 77% of female players had already made discriminatory comments while playing. “It was hell, remembers Eva Martinello, about her past as a player. The other players spied on all our scores and always doubted our credibility. It was a pretty hostile environment.”
A “hostile” environment that takes shape on “chats” or discussion channels, but also in a “vocal” way in games where players talk to each other to give each other directions to achieve team performance. These are randomly formed between players of the same level. This is especially the case with shooting games like Overwatch.
“If you talk into the microphone to communicate with your teammates, you will inevitably hear that you are female, which will generally lead to bullying, teasing and insults. And this will have an effect on the performance of the players.” , explain Eva Martinello (an example of this behavior in the video above).
“We will have inappropriate thoughts, hear animal noises, men will speak in a high-pitched voice to make fun of and if we miss our duel on the game it is normal, because we are female,” confirms Pauline Puybareau.
So, to protect yourself from this kind of behavior, “some women use software to transform their voices, to make them masculine”, adds Eva Martinello. Still others prefer to keep quiet so as not to draw attention.
“The majority don’t transform their voices. They don’t dare to talk. They prefer to abstain from this communication, which is essential, if they just want to play like everyone else.”
Pauline Puybareau, esports manager at the Women in Games associationat franceinfo: sports
This need for protection is so essential that many players, regardless of their skill level, choose neutral or masculine nicknames to re-camouflage their gender. The practice is also very widespread. according to an research conducted by Range3 in 202059% of female players hide their gender to avoid any form of discrimination.
This observation did not escape their male counterparts. “It’s always been harder for the players. And if they underperform, they get burn more than men”, explains Arnaud Billaudel, former high-level player and now coach of the BDS team. An opinion shared by the streamer Rivenzi. “Some of my co-workers have told me that they cut off the camera when they get up to go to the bathroom, they are careful about how they dress when they are on the show, and they are afraid of where they see the footage. can find them afterwards.”
This behavior is driving many players away from esports, which is known as an environment where millions of players evolve, but where only about thirty can live financially. “Even though the atmosphere is less hostile at the professional level, the problem is that we all go through the amateur level, which is very hostile. It’s discouraging.”explains Eve Martinello.
As a result, if they represent 51%* of the general players (without ranking, without competition), they represent only 35% of recreational athletes (with ranking, without competition). Their presence even drops to 7% of amateur athletes (with ranking, with competition).
I now understand why Valorant’s queues are so incredibly toxic. You have one of the most popular streamers on YouTube IShowSpeed who says such nonsense and gets nothing but praise and laughter. crap is crazy pic.twitter.com/grEghVotUF
—Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) Apr 6, 2022
How to explain such a phenomenon? For sociologist Nicolas Besombes, a video game specialist, this phenomenon is related to several intertwined factors. “First, we live in a society that is socially gender based, where the construction of children is done from an early age based on their gender, begins the sociologist. For example, we more easily attribute character traits to one sex than to another, such as collaboration for the girl and competition for the boy.
The arrival of the first home consoles in homes in this context occurred in the early 1970s and 1980s, with very gender-focused marketing aimed at boys. “With esport, we are at a crossroads between video games and competition, seen as something masculine,” summarizes the sociologist. Second, the video game industry is designed by and for men.
“Historically, female characters have long been trophies, like Princess Peach in Mario… overdone.”
Nicolas Besombes, sociologist, video game specialistat franceinfo: sports
In this context, there is also a practice that is not specific to video games: the anonymity favored by online gaming. “Behind a screen, on condition of anonymity, we notice that the people are more likely to make discriminatory comments than if they were in front of the person,” supports the sociologist Nicolas Besombes.
If the problems of harassment and sexism in esports persist, it’s mainly because the sanctions have not yet matched the acts. In the vast majority of cases, the penalties remain at stake. “With free games, it is easy for the affected players to close their account and start over with another one. With paid games, publishers can temporarily or permanently ban players. In this case, the player loses all his achieved levels”, explains Eva Martinello.
“There is not enough regulation. When there are laws against cyberbullying, it is rare for people to be convicted compared to the magnitude of the phenomenon.”
Nicolas Besombes, sociologistat franceinfo: sports
considered a crime, the cyberbullying is punished a fine and/or imprisonment. The maximum penalty imposed, if the victim is under the age of 15, is 3 years in prison and a fine of €45,000.
However, proving this behavior can be complex. When publishers try to filter the discussion channels to identify instances of harassment, it’s not always easy to identify sexist or harassment-related comments. So more and more players and streamers are taking screenshots or recording the words or behavior they are confronted with before making them public on social networks.
To try and push the lines, initiatives have been taken such as the creation of women’s leagues for certain games, parallel to mixed competitions, but in fact too often reserved for men. These women’s leagues aim to promote diversity in competitions. But the initiative splits in the middle. “I’m more against it. We are lucky to be able to associate men and women in esports, because there is no physical difference. But yes, initially these competitions can help with integration and trigger a change of mindset.” † believes Arnaud Billaudel.
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“These leagues were a must to show that there were women in esports. But today, in 2022, we know. Now we need diversity,” meanwhile mentions Norman Chartrier, known as Gen1us, animator, streamer and professional gamer. But even today, in physical events, there are less than 5% of the participants for 95% of the guys. “There is a real urgency, believes Nicolas Besombes. No one wants to discriminate against the practice of video games based on gender. However, if it can be useful for 10 or 15 people, it should be done.”
Even though the step is still high to put an end to this behavior, the horizon seems to be brightening and the mindset is starting to change.
“Ten years ago the players were counted on the fingers of one hand. Today there are hundreds. And the behavior is changing. A few days ago I played with a player for 3 or 4 hours, without reporting anything.” Ten years ago there would have been incidents”notes Arnaud Billaudel.
“The inclusion of women in esports is not yet perfect, but we have already taken a big step forward. Ten years ago you couldn’t even play”, adds Norman Chartrier, who has been in esports for 17 years. According to him, their better integration into the environment was made possible by the influence of streamers, for example on Twitch or Youtube. “Today they are kind of the standard bearer for players who are in the shadows. They show that you can be a woman and perform in games that are perceived as ‘masculine'”. And thus prove once again that they have their place there.
*According to the 2021 France Esports barometer.
