ABSTRACT
While the increasing popularity of esports has been substantial, representation and acceptance of women as both players and characters within the games constitute a major point of concern. This includes sports video games, which are among the least diverse esports genres in terms of female representation. This chapter discusses the role of female character representations in the overall marginalisation of women in esports and gaming. While the recent growth of female characters in sports video games may be a positive step towards improving women’s representation and inclusion in gaming, this development does not necessarily lead to increased inclusivity and equality within gaming environments. Based on an online survey of sports video game players, the current study aims to examine players’ perceptions of this development in order to better understand the importance of female character representation in gaming. The results reveal a clear gendered pattern among respondents, indicating that women feel that female character options remain too scarce and poorly portrayed.
