ABSTRACT
Due to its lack of dependence on physical ability, practitioners have argued that esports has the potential to provide gender-inclusive sporting spaces (Ratan et al., 2015). Yet, a substantial body of research suggests that the marginalisation and discrimination of women is a major issue in esports (Rogstad, 2021). The purpose of this chapter is to explore the complex and interrelated ways in which Norwegian esports organisations contribute to the production of gender inequality. In doing so, the chapter examines how organisational structures, processes, and practices influence the gendering of power in leadership and governance positions in Norwegian esports organisations. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 elected and employed male and female leaders in Norwegian esports organisations. Drawing on the work of Acker (2006a), it was found that a range of inequality regimes contribute to an underrepresentation of women in leadership and governance positions within Norwegian esports organisations. The analysis of the findings is focused on four inequality regimes: 1) the shape and degree of gender inequality, 2) organising processes that produce gender inequality, 3) control over systems of gender inequality, and 4) the visibility and legitimacy of gender inequalities.
