League of Legends (LoL), a titan among the multiplayer online battle arena(MOBA) games, has been around for nearly a decade now and with growing popularity, especially after the recent Arena 2v2v2v2 update.
But many skeptics have raised concerns as to why there is little to no female presence in the professional League of Legends community.
In essence, many variables play a role in this debate including cultural gap, male dominance in the game, and sponsorship issues that pertain even up to this day.
In this guide, we will take a deep dive into all such issues so let’s get down to business.
The Cultural Gap
The first and foremost issue is perhaps the cultural gap and stereotype associated with female gamers. In many cultures, games bear this label, pushing women to the sidelines. Can women play? Without a doubt! However, stereotypes create barriers and intimidation for aspiring women.
Additionally, another aspect that comes into play is the dark side of online gaming that is harassment, toxicity, and sexism. Such a hostile environment has simply proven to drive women away from professional gaming which is primarily why most females these days don’t prefer gaming as a whole.
On a side note, check out the Top 5 Best ADCs to Pair With Shen in Season 12.
Psychological Barriers
Confidence and Self-Perception: The stakes are rising. The eyes of society are on you. Although men face this as well but due to the lack of female involvement in professional LoL, the pressure can be ten fold stronger.
Competitive Pressure: Extremely competitive, ferocious, and unyielding. The nature of professional gaming can possibly affect women differently since support and encouragement are lacking. In fact, this has resulted in a decreased drive to compete.
Tilted Support
If you’ve been following the gaming industry for a while, it will be clear that male and female teams don’t exactly get the same support or money. There are several reasons for this. Foremost, most people prefer to watch male competitions because they find them more “competitive”.
As a result, most women don’t find it useful to put in the hours at a professional level since it is extremely difficult to get into the professional LoL world with all the stigmas attached.
Harassment Issues
It comes as no surprise that harassment is a common issue in multiplayer online gaming and this seems to only get worse with females. If you’re a female, chances are that you’d have at least once or twice faced such issues while playing LoL or any game for that matter.
This can be extremely stressful due to which most women would rather not focus towards getting into the professional action.
Common Myths Associated With Female Gamers
Let’s address some common known myths related to females in the gaming industry.
Women Don’t Like Competitive Gaming
It is widely accepted in the gaming community that women are not interested in gaming which is why they are not seen at a professional level.
While it may be true that the niche is appreciated by males more, it is not exactly a black and white picture.
Many female streamers play LoL on Twitch and other streaming sites.
Women Can’t be Successful in Gaming
The general stereotype associated with female gamers is that they’re not comparable to males.
Objectively, the numbers favor men but this stereotype can be quite damaging since it drives most females that may be interested in professional LoL, away.
What Can Be Done To Fix?
In order to create a healthier gaming community, the best bet is to have both genders avail equal opportunity in the gaming world. There are several ways to go about it as we’ll discuss below.
Cultural Sensitivity and Mutual Respect
The gaming community can Incorporate cultural awareness in every gaming endeavor whether it be League of Legends or any other game.
This will not only promote respect and unity but would also popularize LoL in females as an actual career path.
Learning from Success Stories
In order to balance the male and female ratio in the LoL world, we can try to replicate governments, organizations, and communities that have been successful to promote both gender’s inclusivity and then essentially apply the proven solutions in the gaming world.
Addressing Common Myths
All the common myths we mentioned earlier need to be addressed on a global level. These can help people change their narratives about the gaming world and could possibly result in people of both genders entering the gaming world.
Diversity in Hiring Practices
The gaming business can set an example by ensuring diversity in recruiting. From game creators to marketing teams, having a wide set of perspectives can result in goods that appeal to a larger audience, including women.
Female Characters and Storylines
The presentation of female characters in video games can either perpetuate or disrupt prejudices. Creating strong, diverse female characters and storylines can send a strong statement and encourage more women to participate in the gaming world.
Women-Only Leagues: A First Step
While an integrated environment is the ultimate goal, women-only leagues can provide a supportive stepping stone. They provide a venue for women to practice their talents, build confidence, and demonstrate their talent.
Conclusion
The lack of women in professional LoL is an issue that demands addressing. It is a complicated issue that is the result of various reasons including lack of opportunity, harassment issues, and general stereotypes.
The eSports industry is thriving and full of opportunity. Let us work together to guarantee that growth includes a more varied and representative future. Opportunities, acceptance, and celebration are the ways forward.
