Is online gaming safe for women?

In first-person shooter games, things tend to get rough. This has to do with eliminating opposing teams of course, but also with the tone in chatrooms. Women in particular are massively discriminated in gaming. A bachelor's thesis at UAS Burgenland investigated where female gamers can find so-called "safe spaces" and how these are accepted.

Eisenstadt, 22th of October 2024 - According to estimates, over 3 billion people worldwide - that's 40% of the world's population - fell into the category of gamers in 2023. This means that they spend a considerable amount of their free time playing computer games. FPS games and first-person shooters, in which players have to eliminate as many opponents as possible, are often the subject of critical discussion and research. The issue of discrimination against female gamers is one that has hardly been investigated by research as yet.

It is estimated that women make up 30% of gamers. However, coming out as a woman in voice chats only brings disadvantages.

Chiara Auer, UAS Burgenland graduate

For her bachelor's thesis in the Information, Media & Communication degree programme at UAS Burgenland, she looked specifically at the game Valorant, which was released by Riot Games in 2020 and is the 12th most popular e-sports game in Austria with 14 million players (as of January 2024). In addition to her literature research, Auer interviewed six professional gamers from Austria and Germany, five of whom were female. She defined pro gamers as people who have already taken part in public tournaments where prize money can be won.

Solutions for more inclusion in e-sports

How is Discord used by FP Valorant pro-gamers in Germany to create a safe space for women between the ages of 18 and 35 in FPS e-sports? - was her research question. Auer came up with the idea out of personal interest. "I like to play games myself and have experienced sexualisation, discrimination and attacks first-hand." She emphasises that this has nothing to do with her gaming performance or her rank, but solely with her gender. This impression is confirmed by all of her interviewees.

Safe spaces on the Discord platform are an established coping mechanism used by marginalised groups. "As a video gamer, you use Discord to communicate with others - before, after or during the game," Auer explains. "You can find friends there, organise events or exchange tips in the form of coaching sessions." The safe spaces, such as galorants, are non-judgemental retreats where people can work through their experiences with fellow sufferers. Based on her scientific analysis, Auer was able to clearly identify the Discord platform as a potential tool for creating safe spaces that offer women a space in which they can network, support each other and act free from harassment.

More moderation required on the web

What characterises the platform are technical features such as private servers, moderation tools and servers that are specifically designed to provide a protected and supportive environment. The results of the study show that Discord not only serves as a means of communication, but also as a platform on which women in e-sports feel safe.

However, Auer emphasises that moderation is crucial, just like everywhere else on the net. "The pro-gamers I interviewed would like to see more moderation. The moderators themselves want more tools from Discord." For example, it should be possible to submit anonymous complaints to the moderators. What Chiara Auer points out are the efforts of the game developer Riot Games itself to counteract discrimination. The provider is firmly against discrimination, sexism and homophobia. A character without pronouns is also already available.

About the degree programme

Bachelor's degree course - 6 semesters - Information Management; Academic degree: Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences - BA; Organisational form: Full-time (Mon - Fri) or part-time (usually every fortnight Friday 14.00 to 21.00 and Saturday from 8.30 to 17.15 hrs, plus two attendance blocks per semester Thu - Sat all day), 30% distance learning in the part-time variant; Study places: 50; Study location: 7000 Eisenstadt, Campus 1; Language of instruction: German (individual courses can also be held in English); Tuition fees: none

Registration for a course starting in autumn 2025 is possible at www.fh-burgenland.at.

Further information:
Mag.a Christiane Staab
Marketing & Communication
Fachhochschule Burgenland GmbH
Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537
E-Mail: christiane.staab@hochschule-burgenland.at


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