Free Agents - Sexism and Misogyny in the Esports Business
Takaze A Turner
Abstract
This paper explores the ongoing struggle for gender equity within the esports industry, using recent events as a lens to examine broader societal conflicts over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in America. It highlights the challenges faced by women in esports, such as sexism, misogyny, and barriers to representation, illustrated by the activism of players like Josefine Jensen. The analysis connects these experiences to larger trends-intensified resistance to DEI initiatives, legislative and social pushback, and the strategic adaptation of civil rights tactics by opponents of equity. The paper further discusses legal avenues for recourse, such as filing discrimination charges with the EEOC, while acknowledging the limitations of institutional protections amid rising anti-DEI sentiment. Through analogy and contemporary examples, the paper underscores the importance of leveraging economic and cultural influence to advance inclusion, and argues that the evolving dynamics in sports and entertainment may offer new pathways for marginalized groups to contest exclusionary practices and reshape the status quo.
