Diversity and Inclusion in the Esports Industry

by Rabiu K. B. Asante (Contribution by), Andrew C. Billings (Contribution by), Skye Cooley (Contribution by), David C. Hughes (Contribution by), Joshua R. Jackson (Contribution by)

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666913613
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	12/08/2023
Series:	Emerging Insights into Esports
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	166
File size:	354 KB

About the Author

Ryan Rogers is an independent scholar.
Mary L. Sheffer is professor of media and entertainment arts at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Andrew C. Billings is executive director of the Alabama Program in Sports Communication and Ronald Reagan Chair of Broadcasting in the Department of Journalism&Creative Media at the University of Alabama.
John McGuire, PhD, is professor and Welch-Bridgewater Chair for Sports Media at Oklahoma State University’s School of Media and Strategic Communications. Dr. McGuire was a co-editor for The ESPN Effect: Exploring the Worldwide Leader in Sports and ESPN and the Changing Sports Media Landscape. Dr. McGuire’s work has been published in the Journal of Sports Media, Communication and Sport, International Journal of Sport Communication, Newspaper Research Journal, and Journal of Radio and Audio Media. During his 16 years as a sports announcer, Dr. McGuire did play-by-play or color commentary for more than 300 college and high school events while working for two Missouri radio stations. Over his broadcast and academic career, Dr. McGuire has won nearly two dozen awards for sports and news reporting.
Ryan Rogers is an independent researcher.

Table of Contents

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

Editorial Reviews

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