Commonwealth Esports Championships helping change perceptions of female gamers

The Commonwealth Esports Championships are helping to normalise female participation in gaming and end a misogynistic culture, according to members of the England women’s team.

England’s Rocket League players, who compete on Sunday, say they have in the past been told to ‘get back in the kitchen’ and subjected to a stream of abusive messages online, but that events like the one at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham are helping to change perceptions.

The Championships, which are taking place on Saturday and Sunday, are not an official part of the Birmingham 2022 programme, but should the event be a success it is not impossible that it will be fully integrated in time for the 2026 Games in Victoria, as the Commonwealth Games Federation seeks to find new ways to engage with a younger audience.

Bella ‘Crimson’ Selwood, 21, admits Esports remain a bit of a “taboo” because it is perceived as nerdy and encouraging young people to spend time in front of screens, but highlighted how bringing it to a more mainstream audience was helping female gamers find a greater degree of acceptance and more inclusive environments to play in.

Crimson told the PA news agency: “It’s changing slowly, but it’s 100 per cent moving in the right direction. If I play Rocket League online, quite often you’ll get (comments like) ‘Get back in the kitchen, you don’t belong here’.

“Having something like these Championships hugely helps.”

I've had one guy in my DMs for four hours, just constant abuse. It's not a good experience,- Aliya 'Aliyamay' Hanson

Team-mate Aliya ‘Aliyamay’ Hanson says there is “absolutely” misogyny in the online gaming world and added: “Women are often kicked out or harassed out of certain spaces. It’s often the reason