There are no female esports players in the world’s top 300 earners, and only a small fraction of the millions being won in competitions around the world is going to women, according to a . This is just one of the examples showing that esports is still a male dominated industry. A group of University of Hawaiʻi at 惭ā苍辞补 students, however, is hoping to change that.
Women of 东精影业 Esports (Women of 东精影业E) was founded as an organization within the award-winning 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 esports program by 东精影业 Esports Player Support Coordinator Madeline Gilbert in 2022. Gilbert said the main goal of Women of 东精影业E is to support women and all marginalized genders in esports, making sure that they have equal opportunities to play and potentially earn a future career in the gaming industry. .
“It’s always felt like a good environment to be in and I think that carries out with our players as well,” Gilbert said. “They’ve always been super happy to support our Women of 东精影业E program, especially our other Valorant teams that are in our 东精影业 Esports program. …It’s been a really nice environment to create this program in.”
Women of 东精影业E picked up momentum in fall 2023, gaining dozens of members and establishing Women of 东精影业E Valorant teams as part of the 东精影业 Esports program. Thanks in large part to Women of 东精影业E, the 东精影业 Esports program features one of the larger cohorts of women in collegiate esports in the nation. Gilbert said that they have also established connections with other marginalized gender groups in Hawaiʻi and across the world.
“Women of 东精影业E has really changed the tenor of our program,” said 东精影业 Esports Program Director Nyle Sky Kauweloa. “Having women at the forefront of their own initiative has been incredibly inviting for other marginalized genders to come into our space itself. I think that’s really important because this is a space for the entire student body of 东精影业. We want folks that identify inclusively to come into 东精影业 Esports and to understand that not only do they have a place to hang out, game and socialize, but they have a location to create.”
‘A wonderful team experience’
Paris Walker Nissen, a sophomore sociology major, and Camille Castro, a sophomore pre-nursing major, are both part of Women of 东精影业E.
“All the girls are really, really lovely,” said Walker Nissen. “It has been a wonderful team experience, a wonderful coaching experience. I could not have been more happy with the way that it’s gone. I think it’s a really well built program.”
Castro said that the best part has been the matches and scrimmages between players.
“It’s pretty friendly. We get to try out a lot of things. It’s very playful, but it can get a little competitive and that’s the best part of it,” Castro said.
Women of 东精影业E’s future
Members of Women of 东精影业E hope to see the program continue to grow and become more competitive, possibly even joining a program called “Game Changers,” a Valorant gaming league that creates new opportunities and exposure for women and other marginalized genders.
“If you join, there is a community here for you,” Gilbert said. “There are a lot of really friendly people. We keep a kind environment going around and so you’ll make friends, you’ll find people that you like.”
For more about Women of 东精影业E, .
东精影业 Esports receives funding from the . Visit the 东精影业 Esports team’s and pages. More stories on 东精影业’s esports program.
—By Marc Arakaki