“I Want to Play a Normal Game.I Don’t Need All This.”

Exploring Gender Diversityin Portuguese Esports

Assuncao, Carina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9860-6013, Scott, Michael ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6803-1490, Summerley, Rory ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-9679 and ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6496-9679 (2025) “I Want to Play a Normal Game.I Don’t Need All This.”. Eludamos, 15 (1). pp. 183-207. ISSN 1866-6124

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Abstract / Summary

Esports in Portugal have been growing steadily in recent years. As in many other countries, women are significantly underrepresented in Portuguese esports. New studies with Portu-guese students show conservative views towards gender roles and disinterest inprioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), which contrasts with the global tendency to incorporate it in the industry.Lately, initiatives promoting DEI have populated the esports landscape. However, the communities’ response, which may impact effectiveness, remains under-ex-amined. This work is part of a larger ethnographic project that aims to understand how the esports communities in Portugal perceive and react to DEI initiatives such as women-only tournaments or harassment awareness campaigns. This paper will discuss findings from the thematic analysis of 10 interviews with Portuguese members of an esports community. The recurring themes were (1) DEI initiatives are imposed; (2) Portugal is too small to care (about DEI); (3) nepotism; (4) self-preservation; and (5) ubiquity of online toxicity.

Item Type:	Article
ISSN:	1866-6124
Subjects:	Research Social Sciences
Courses by Department:	The Games Academy
Depositing User:	Carina Assuncao
Date Deposited:	17 Mar 2025 16:49
Last Modified:	17 Mar 2025 16:49
URI:	https://repository.falmouth.ac.uk/id/eprint/5408

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