Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women
Abstract This study examined how female players engage with Honor of Kings (HOK), a mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, focusing on the facilitating and inhibiting factors shaping their participation in this traditionally male-dominated domain. Semi-structured interviews were conduct...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer Nature
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04392-z |
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| author | Di Tang Bo Peng Ruisi Ma Kim-wai Raymond Sum |
| author_facet | Di Tang Bo Peng Ruisi Ma Kim-wai Raymond Sum |
| author_sort | Di Tang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study examined how female players engage with Honor of Kings (HOK), a mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, focusing on the facilitating and inhibiting factors shaping their participation in this traditionally male-dominated domain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 female players (aged 18–29). The analysis primarily focused on how social factors, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control influence their gaming experience in HOK. Additionally, thematic analysis was utilized to explore themes related to the experiences of female participation in HOK, societal perceptions of esports, gender biases, and online toxicity. The results indicate that HOK has successfully broadened female participation in esports through social media integration and esthetic appeal. However, traditional cultural norms and masculine gaming culture, manifested in gender discrimination and online harassment, significantly challenge women’s inclusive participation in the esports ecosystem. This study is the first to explore women’s experiences as primary players in mobile esports, providing fresh insights into gender dynamics in esports. The research expands understanding of the relationships between game design, social integration, and cultural barriers in esports participation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7be776cdf3e43e485c819f3aeb41e20 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-9992 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer Nature |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7be776cdf3e43e485c819f3aeb41e202025-02-09T12:25:35ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-02-0112111310.1057/s41599-025-04392-zDispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young womenDi Tang0Bo Peng1Ruisi Ma2Kim-wai Raymond Sum3Department of Sports Science of Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Sports Science of Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Sports Science of Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong KongDepartment of Sports Science of Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong KongAbstract This study examined how female players engage with Honor of Kings (HOK), a mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, focusing on the facilitating and inhibiting factors shaping their participation in this traditionally male-dominated domain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 female players (aged 18–29). The analysis primarily focused on how social factors, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control influence their gaming experience in HOK. Additionally, thematic analysis was utilized to explore themes related to the experiences of female participation in HOK, societal perceptions of esports, gender biases, and online toxicity. The results indicate that HOK has successfully broadened female participation in esports through social media integration and esthetic appeal. However, traditional cultural norms and masculine gaming culture, manifested in gender discrimination and online harassment, significantly challenge women’s inclusive participation in the esports ecosystem. This study is the first to explore women’s experiences as primary players in mobile esports, providing fresh insights into gender dynamics in esports. The research expands understanding of the relationships between game design, social integration, and cultural barriers in esports participation.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04392-z |
| spellingShingle | Di Tang Bo Peng Ruisi Ma Kim-wai Raymond Sum Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women Humanities & Social Sciences Communications |
| title | Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women |
| title_full | Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women |
| title_fullStr | Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women |
| title_short | Dispelling stigma and enduring bias: exploring the perception of esports participation among young women |
| title_sort | dispelling stigma and enduring bias exploring the perception of esports participation among young women |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04392-z |
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