After heavy criticism, the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) is reversing its stance on gender division within its eSports competitions. Common sense prevails.
While previously male-only events will now be open to women as a new ‘Open For All’ category, the organisation will retain the women-only division. The IeSF says this is in order to ”(provide) female gamers with ample opportunities to compete in e-Sports—currently a male-dominated industry”.
Questions were raised regarding the IeSF’s gender policy yesterday, when a Hearthstone eSports tournament hosted by the Finnish Assembly was opened only for male players. The Finnish Assembly pointed to IeSF legislation when questioned by PC Gamer.
After initially defending their position by way of suggesting that the decision was intended to comply with international sports regulations and therefore ”get e-Sports recognized as a true sports like it should be”, the IeSF has bowed under the pressure from the community and changed its stance.
”The IeSF has listened to the gaming community and has carefully considered their opinions,” reads the organisation’s official statement.”Upon hearing these concerns, the IeSF convoked an emergency session of the IeSF Board to respond. As a result, IeSF shall have two event categories: “Open for All” events and events that are reserved for women. The events which were initially set aside as the male division will now be open to all genders, and the events which were initially set as the female division will remain as they were.”
This was really the only sensible option here. Separating a Hearthstone competition down gender lines never made any sense. It’s really just surprising that no-one picked up on the IeSF’s policies before now. Thanks to the updated policy, the revised schedule for the upcoming eSports World Championship BAKU 2014 now reads as follows:
Open for All
DOTA 2
- Participating teams may consist of 5 male players, 5 female players, or mixed team.
StarCraft®II: Heart of the Swarm®
- Players of all genders can participate in the event.
Ultra Street Fighter 4
- Players of all genders can participate in the event.
Hearthstone™: Heroes of Warcraft™
- Players of all genders can participate in the event.
TEKKEN TAG TOURNAMENT 2
- Players of all genders can participate in the event.
Female Competition
StarCraft®II: Heart of the Swarm®
- Female event is conducted separately, in parallel with “Open for All” event.
Tekken Tag Tournament 2
- Female event is conducted separately, in parallel with “Open for All” event.
