In theory, esports should be inclusive regardless of gender, race, or ability – however, incidents in the world of esports indicate otherwise. This collection provides an examination of diversity and inclusion in esports as contributors offer a way for readers to understand the history, current issues, and potential impacts of diversity and inclusion in the industry. Through analyses of players, games, fans, and broadcasts, this book highlights the exponential growth of the industry alongside the burgeoning cultural importance of diversity and inclusion. Ultimately, Diversity and Inclusion in the Esports Industry contributes to an intersection of well-established research areas to draw new insights as the industry continues to evolve. Scholars of communication, media studies, game studies, and sociology will find this book of particular interest.
Acknowledgments Chapter 1: History of Esports and Esports Broadcasts Steve Young and Mary L. Sheffer Chapter 2: Evolution of Game Culture in FPS Esports Steve Young and Mary L. Sheffer Chapter 3: Transfixing, Transporting, and Toxic: Troubling Experiences for Gender and Racial Minorities in Esports Spaces Joshua R. Jackson. Cameron A. Panhans, and Andrew C. Billings Chapter 4: Characterizing Professional Counter-Strike: Media’s Impact on Gamer Stereotypes Steve Young Chapter 5: Love and Loyalty in the Fighting Game Community John Shrader Chapter 6: Unleashing the Stories of Invisible Gamers in Esports Katerina Tovia-Dufoo Chapter 7: Black Men, STEM, and Erasing the Digital Divide- The Need for Black Male Targeted Esport Initiatives David C. Hughes Chapter 8: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Youth Development Through Gaming and Esports: From Theory to Pilot Jeffrey Levine Chapter 9: Esports and the Coed Approach Rachel Lin, Skye Cooley, and John McGuire Chapter 10: Surviving the Competition: Ghanaian Female Video Gamers in Male-Dominated Space Rabiu K. B. Asante About the Contributors
Ryan Rogers is an independent scholar. Mary L. Sheffer is professor of media and entertainment arts at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Reviews for Diversity and Inclusion in the Esports Industry
The growth of ESports is accelerating much faster than academia can respond. Higher education institutions have belatedly responded by offering Esports courses and a few programs (e.g., certificates, minors, concentrations, etc.), although support for Esports scholarship has grown slowly. However, Diversity and Inclusion in the Esports Industry, edited by Ryan Rogers and Mary Lou Sheffer, should aid in the development of Esports scholarship and understanding by many of various areas of interest in the general industry. Chapters on the history and culture of Esports provide background info before specific foci on issues related to race, gender, and identities in Esports. Multiple elite researchers authored chapters, but the writing is straight-forward and easy to comprehend throughout. In sum, this text is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about Esports beyond just the games. --Ted Kian, Oklahoma State University
