Women in Gaming: How Female Streamers and Esports Players Are Navigating Bias, Banter and Breakthroughs

Gaming online, or Esports, is an industry that’s only grown in the last couple of years. It is one of the largest entertainment sectors in the world, valued at over $180 billion. In India, 41 per cent of gamers in 2021 were women. While the numbers aren’t bad, women players rue that their lived experience shows how skewed the landscape is, as they navigate mostly male-dominated rooms while gaming.

For many female gamers, participation comes with an added layer of scrutiny, ranging from casual sexism in voice chats to assumptions about skill levels at tournaments. But as more women enter competitive gaming and streaming spaces, the conversation is shifting. Players like Saloni Kandalgaonkar, Tarushika, Krutika Ojha, and Ankkita Chauhan say the industry is evolving, but slowly.

“Refuse to Shrink Myself”: Navigating Sexist Comments in Voice Chats

For most multiplayer formats, voice chats form the core of gameplay. But for women, speaking up can sometimes shift the entire tone of a lobby.

"Sometimes the moment I spoke on voice chat, the tone of the lobby changed," explains Ankkita C, reflecting on her early years of playing games like BGMI and VALORANT. "Instead of focusing on strategy, a few players would either make unnecessary comments or start trying to impress."

She dealt with it by focusing wholly on the game instead of the comments. "Protecting your mental space and staying locked in is more important than engaging in distractions," she added.

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For streamer Saloni Kandalgaonkar, known online as Mili Kya Mili, witnessed something similar.

“As a live streamer, I have seen all kinds of comments. Some are supportive, some are immature, while some cross the line with their remarks,” she recalled. “I do not let it affect how I communicate in-game… If something inappropriate happens, I address it with humour or maturity and move on. I refuse to shrink myself because of someone else’s mindset.”

Saloni, with her gaming system.

But joining voice chats is non-negotiable for most women, as communication is essential. However, gamer Krutika Ojha says the scepticism she faced was less on the lines of being flirty or harassment and more about disbelief.

“During competitive phases, I have faced situations where opponents or random teammates questioned my presence in the lobby. It was less about flirting and more about disbelief… I became sharper in my responses and kept everything performance-oriented,” she said.

The Representation Question: When Female Characters Are Over-Sexualised

Beyond the community, representation within games themselves is another issue players are thinking about.

Some games still lean heavily into stylised or sexualised designs for female avatars. Clothes that are skimpy or figure-hugging were common parts of games.

Saloni explained, “Somecontinue to portray female avatars with exaggerated features. It would be great to see more grounded personalities and diverse body types reflected on screen.”

She points to Lara Croft as an example of how representation can evolve. “A character like Lara Croft is a good example of how evolution in design can shift focus from appearance to capability, resilience, and depth.”

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Others highlight characters that prioritise strength and narrative over aesthetics. Tarushika pointed to a character saying, “I would like to see more representation that mirrors strong characters like Bangalore… portrayed as disciplined and combat-ready rather than ornamental.”

Tarushika, also known as Sheek. 

Meanwhile, Ankkita appreciates the direction games like Valorant have taken with characters like Sage. “Thoughtful representation reinforces the idea that qualities like intelligence and leadership are not tied to gender,” she said.

The Credibility Gap: Proving Skill in Male-Dominated Spaces

The biggest hurdle women gamers face is often just proving their skills. Women are often met with curiosity, or worse, scepticism. They are frequently tested before they are trusted.

They are assumed to be “casual gamers”. Ankkita recalled, “There have been moments where people assumed I was someone who doesn’t understand game mechanics deeply. It shows in small ways, like technical discussions being directed only at male players.”

Ankkita Chauhan aka AnkkitaC

Tarushika (Sheek), a professional BGMI player with a championship-winning roster experienced this firsthand when competing in open brackets rather than female-only categories. "In competitive rooms, once I start making macro calls about rotations, zone predictions, and resource management, the conversation becomes purely tactical," Tarushika notes. "When you lift a trophy or finish high in a stacked lobby, doubts disappear.”

While things improve, the girls are optimistic about a more inclusive gaming landscape.

When asked what a truly inclusive ecosystem looks like, the consensus is clear: a space where female participation is normalized, not novel. Equal access to coaching, scrims, and tournament slots is paramount, as is the normalization of mixed-gender rosters.

And for the next generation of girls picking up controllers and keyboards, their advice is simple.

“You do not need permission to be there,” Krutika says. “Whether you are playing casually or competitively, let yourself enjoy the process.”