Compared to film and television, video games are breaking considerable boundaries onscreen when it comes to diversity and representation. However, this representation is largely only superficial. Although women and minorities are indeed working behind the scenes, the industry is still dominated by men. For us to see real change on-screen, the overall video games industry and esports sector needs to undergo some serious diversification.
Women in the Video Games Industry
While female protagonists in video games are nothing new, there is an image problem when it comes to how they are presented on-screen. Take video game mascots like Lara Croft as an example. For many years, the Tomb Raider series hyper-sexualized their lead character, putting just as much emphasis on the contours of her body as her physical strength and proficiency with firearms. Many other gaming titles were equally guilty of this sexualization of their female cast. Popular beat ‘em ups like Tekken, Dead or Alive and Soul Calibur have all been guilty of objectifying their female characters with designs that have put far too much emphasis on revealing costumes and unrealistic physical appearance.
Admittedly, developers have taken action to remedy this representation issue in recent years. One study found that sexualization of female characters reached its peak by 2005. The on-screen shift is easy to see. Take the aforementioned Lara Croft, for example. More recent entries in the Tomb Raider series have showcased a far more realistic depiction of a female character. However, the sexualized ideal is still a problem for the video games industry. On one hand, this could be attributed to developers designing games and characters for what they perceive to be a largely male audience. However, it’s worth pointing out that in 2020 more than 41 percent of US gamers were female.
Ethnic Minorities in the Video Games Industry
BAME representation faces different, but equally problematic representation issues in the world of video games. Search the video game archives and you’d struggle to find a BAME protagonist that isn’t bound to rigid, and often insulting, stereotypes. In recent years, developers have taken big steps to rectify this representation problem. If you’re looking for positive representation of BAME characters, look no further than Apex Legends. This title is rich in diversity, with many Black, Asian and mixed-race characters making up the cast roster.
Esports Demographics
Another area of the video games sector that has a representation issue is esports. Although female players make up a sizable proportion of the overall demographic, this is not really represented in the higher tiers. Beyond the likes of top-level talent like Scarlett, Ricki Ortiz and Liooon, there are few high-earning females actively participating in competitive esports. You only need to cast your eyes over platforms like 1337 Pro to see how under-represented female esports professionals are. However, this is one issue that may resolve itself quickly enough. As gaming titles become more diverse and the viewership of professional esports grows to encompass a broader demographic, it seems likely that a higher number of female players will permeate the professional ranks.
Source:Plato Data Intelligence