The #E-Too Movement: Fighting Back Against Sexual Harassment in Electronic Sports

47 Pages Posted: 1 Dec 2019 Last revised: 1 Jun 2020

See all articles by John T. Holden

John T. Holden

Oklahoma State University

Thomas Baker

University of Georgia

Marc Edelman

City University of New York - Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business; Fordham University School of Law

Date Written: November 15, 2019

Abstract

Competitive video gaming or esports has captured the attention of hundreds of millions of people across the globe. With that attention has come billions of dollars worth of investment and promotion. But, it has also exposed an underlying toxic environment that features widespread sexual and gender harassment. This pervasive culture of harassment threatens to derail the esports industry, and mars the promise of gender equity in one of the few competitive “sports” where physical strength, agility and body size do not dictate success. In this Article we examine the rise of competitive gaming, and provide an in-depth analysis of the pervasive issue of harassment that permeates esports. We then propose a series of tangible reforms that would hold harassers and their corporate accomplices accountable for their harassing behavior.

Keywords: esports, harassment, sports law, gaming

JEL Classification: K00, K23, K31, K3, Z1, Z2, Z21, Z22, J4, J47, J48, J5, J51, J58, J8, J83, J88, I00, I1, I2, I3, J00

Suggested Citation

Holden, John and Baker, Thomas and Edelman, Marc, The #E-Too Movement: Fighting Back Against Sexual Harassment in Electronic Sports (November 15, 2019). 52 Arizona State Law Journal 1 (2020)., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3487961

John Holden (Contact Author)

Oklahoma State University ( email )

464 Business Building
Stillwater, OK 74078-0555
United States

Thomas Baker

University of Georgia ( email )

4458 Tacoma Trce.
Suwanee, GA GA 30024
United States
3525148113 (Phone)
3525148113 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://https://coe.uga.edu/directory/profiles/tab3

Marc Edelman

City University of New York - Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business ( email )

One Bernard Baruch Way
Box B9-220
New York, NY 10010
United States

Fordham University School of Law ( email )

140 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
339
Abstract Views
1,561
Rank
143,428
PlumX Metrics