Balancing Gender Identity and Gamer Identity: Gender Issues Faced by Wang ‘BaiZe’ Xinyu at the 2017 Hearthstone Summer Championship

Abstract

This article examines a terrain in which gender inclusion remains a challenge: competitive esports. In the male-dominated sphere of esports, the underrepresentation of women and nonbinary people often leaves these marginalized groups invisible, with a significant lack of women and nonbinary people competing in top-tier tournaments. We highlight the experience of Wang ‘BaiZe’ Xinyu, a Chinese Hearthstone player who became the first woman to compete in a Hearthstone Championship Tour event in the game’s 3-year history. The narrative surrounding BaiZe’s participation largely focused on her gender and ignored the achievements that led her to qualify for the event. We argue that BaiZe’s entrance to the championship scene was received negatively by both competitors and spectators, reinforcing barriers that exclude women and nonbinary people from entering this male-dominated space. The discrimination faced by these esports competitors reinforces sexism inherent not only in Hearthstone but also in esports in general.

Discussions of Fantasy Characters and Demonstrations of a Defensive Hybridity in Gamer Masculinity

“…These behaviors, in the enaction of a hybrid masculinity for analog gamers, asserts gaming occurs in a male space. “The construction of a masculinized culture has also helped reinforce masculine behavior between male members of the community in which they participate” (Schelfhout et al, 2021, p. 27).…”

Gamer dan Muslimah: Konstruksi Identitas Virtual Gamer Daring Profesional

“…Studi tentaang game sebelumnya telah banyak dilakukan, misalnya motivasi pemain game (Lee & Kim, 2016), pengaruh video game terhadap kehidupan sosial para pemain game (Grove & Looy, 2015), dan representasi gender dalam video game (Schelfhout, Bowers, & Hao, 2019). Namun, ada satu topik menarik dan perlu dikaji secara mendalam yaitu tentang konstruksi identitas gamer Muslimah dalam dunia virtual game daring.…”

Uncovering the Meaning: Exploring Semantic Differences in US Perceptions of “Gamer” and Game Players

“…The traditional “gamer” stereotype and its associated characteristics have influenced external perceptions of gaming as well as the internal dynamics which develop and reinforce gaming culture. The traditionally male perception of a “gamer” has led to accusations that gaming culture exhibits hegemonic masculinity (Schelfhout et al, 2019). This hegemony is said to be reinforced within the gaming culture in multiple ways.…”

“…The communities formed from the growth of the video game industry represent an increasingly acceptable form of social engagement. Research has shown that digital gaming offers a number of positive social, vocational, and educational rewards (Schelfhout, Bowers, & Hao, 2019). Despite the growing acceptance of gaming as a recreational, creative, and social medium, popular perceptions of the gaming audience have been slower to evolve.…”

“…Despite recognition of positive gaming outcomes, prior scholarship has also identified the negative effects of gaming culture. These negative effects include the potential for hegemonic masculinity (Schelfhout et al, 2019), online harassment (Xue, Newman, & Du, 2019), racism (e.g., Ortiz, 2019), sex stereotyping (e.g., Ivory, Fox, Wadell, & Ivory, 2014), and gender discrimination (Dowling, Goetz, & Lathrop, 2019; Schelfhout et al, 2019), all of which have been at least partially attributed to self-reinforcing gamer stereotypes. As gaming has become more social and more diversified in conjunction with wider societal movements toward tolerance and acceptance, the persistence of traditionally stereotypical perceptions and behaviors remains a negative aspect of gaming culture.…”