November 1, 2023
Esports, the rapidly evolving realm of competitive gaming, has witnessed a surge in popularity and influence across the globe. However, while this growth is promising, it is vital to assess and address the representation and involvement of women in the field. This time, we’ll focus on the popular title, Call of Duty (CoD).
In recent years, Riot Games and ESL have taken essential steps by introducing initiatives like Game Changers (VALORANT) and the ESL Impact League (CS:GO).
Despite being immensely popular worldwide, women and marginalized genders haven’t experienced considerable success in Call of Duty esports. However, Activision is gearing up to launch a league dedicated to non-male players.
Toxic Gaming Culture
More than a third of female gamers have faced gaming harassment based mainly on their gender. This has led them to develop coping mechanisms, such as hiding their gender online, avoiding the use of voice chats, playing exclusively with friends, blocking toxic teammates, or silencing them by outperforming them. These strategies consume time and energy and avoid confronting the issue directly.
Gaming companies should take an active role in reducing gaming harassment. As the esports industry grows, if it is not addressed, abusive behaviors will persist. It’s not just reacting after the fact by banning harassers. The key is in trying to remove it before it shows up, positively recognizing good behavior in-game, and reacting quickly to complaints.
Community standards have to evolve, and gaming companies have to participate in this evolution. It’s, in the end, a culture change.
Female Pioneers in Call of Duty
Kelsie ‘Kels‘ Grieg
This year, Call of Duty Challengers Elite had, for the first time in its history, a woman among all its participants.
I might be the first female to do it but hopefully I’m not the last. And it just means the world.
Kelsie ‘Kels‘ Grieg for the bbc
Kels, perhaps unknowingly, is forging a path for women and individuals from all minority groups in a community known for its toxicity. Her actions are sparking discussions about the restricted opportunities women face in this space and the crucial need for increased support.
Alyssa ‘Allycxt’ Parker
If you’ve watched the Call of Duty League, Allycxt’s should be a familiar name. She started her gaming journey as a competitor and eventually landed a spot on the desk as an analyst. From there, she boosted her community and started to nourish the path that would ultimately become WxC.
WxC is one of few female-only tournaments in competitive Call of Duty, it’s created a safe space for female competitors to challenge each other while ensuring they receive the highest quality coverage possible.
The talent is there, but it can’t be cultivated when it has to deal with the mental abuse of trying to be a woman in gaming. The whole point of the WxC was to create an environment that didn’t have the mental abuse surrounding it, that didn’t have the stigmas or the barriers. Just allow the girls to cultivate what is there, what could be there.
Alyssa ‘Allycxt’ Parker for esports illustrated
Activision way forward
Following the success of Game Changers and ESL Impact League, Activision is taking a proactive approach to elevate the visibility of women in the COD community.
Daniel Tsay, the General Manager of COD Esports, stated that Activision is actively developing strategies and concepts to address the idea. He emphasizes the importance of ensuring that women and marginalized genders do not feel overlooked in these initiatives.
In COD tournaments, the presence of women competing alongside their male counterparts is notably limited. There are a few standout figures like Emily-Rose ‘Emilia‘ Worrall and Kels, whom we talked about just a minute before. They both have successfully participated in T2 tournaments. Their involvement serves as a clear example. There’s a need to back and support non-male players to allow them to reach the highest level of competitive play.
Undoubtedly, the establishment of a Call of Duty women’s league would significantly contribute to fostering a larger and more diverse community.
With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, more players are going to be able to play the famous Call of Duty saga. This means that there will be more diverse players up to pick up the competitive path.
Such a new league would provide a platform for women and marginalized genders to grow and compete against each other. Furthermore, it would enable them to better and test their skills so, in the future, they will be able to face off against teams of any gender and have an equal opportunity of succeeding.
To sum-up
In the fast-evolving world of esports, the inclusion and representation of women are essential for a thriving and diverse community. Challenges persist, including harassment and limited opportunities, but female pioneers like Allycxt, Emilia, and Kels are here to help and pave the way. Activision’s potential introduction of a women’s league signifies a step toward a more equitable esports landscape in the game.
Players, coaches, teams, leagues, fans, and companies should invest in creating a better community.