Like in the rest of society, the experience in Esport for women can be harsh, seeing a lot of toxicity, gatekeeping, and being overlooked. And, as far as I can remember, I can not name more than three women playing League of Legends competitively (the biggest Esport worldwide, same in Counter Strike). While no corner of the internet is immune, one genre stands apart for its comparatively inclusive environment: the fighting game community (FGC). The “prominence” of women in fighting games isn’t a pure coincidence, even if they still represent around 15% of the players. It’s the direct result of a powerful combination: the 1v1 nature of the game meaning you can’t be blamed for the defeat of others, and every victory is deserved, a deeply rooted community culture that tries to fight toxicity, and a legacy of female pioneers who have made some holes in the  glass ceiling, like Kayane who shines worldwide due to her skills in many video games .

At its core, a fighting game is a digital duel. Two players enter; one leaves victorious. This fundamental format eliminates the most vile barriers women face in team-based esports.

In a team-based game, a woman often has to experience many forms of misogyny from her teammates, so much so that, to this day, no woman is playing in the major competitions of League of Legends, in the last World championships, 88 players were fighting for the title, none of them was a woman. The toxic stereotype of being a dead weight for male players is a constant shadow. In a fighting game, that shadow vanishes. There is no team to blame, and no one to carry you. Your skill, your execution, your game knowledge, the way you read in the mind of your opponent is the only thing that matters, and it’s on full display for all to see. Victory is without a doubt yours, and so is defeat. That creates a form of meritocracy where respect is earned not through gender, but through demonstrated ability.

The FGC was born not in anonymous online matchmaking, but in the vibrant, crowded spaces of arcades and local tournaments. This grassroots origin forged a culture of in-person interaction, sportsmanship, and accountability that persists today.

Because players meet face-to-face, being a misogynistic weirdo has real-life social consequences. Such behavior leads to being ostracized from a community that often functions like a family/close community. We know each other, we share strategies, and we help each other improve.

When a player, regardless of gender, demonstrates high-level execution or deep strategic understanding, they earn respect. It’s common for competitors, after a tough match, to ask each other for advice or to practice together. This common pursuit of mastery creates an environment where what you can do matters infinitely more than who you are.

This environment didn’t create itself; it was forged by Hardworking women who have been pillars of the FGC for decades. Players like Kayane from France have been top competitors and beloved community figures since the early 2000s. Also, she is the one who made me know about Esport when I was 12.

This legacy is crucial. It normalizes the presence of women at the highest level of competition. For a newcomer, seeing a positive representation like Kayane not as an anomaly but as a respected veteran provides an invaluable role model and implicitly states: “You belong here.”

To paint the FGC as a perfect haven would be lying. It is essential to acknowledge the counterpoints.

Women are still a small minority within the scene, which remains predominantly male. However, their proportion and, more importantly, their integration within the top levels of the FGC is significantly greater than in other major esports genres.

The FGC’s organic, merit-based integration contrasts with approaches in other scenes, such as Riot Games creating women-only circuits for Valorant and League of Legends. These initiatives are designed to provide a space for women to shine away from systemic barriers, a solution that highlights the depth of the problem elsewhere.

The FGC is not immune to online harassment, sexism, or condescension. However, the community’s tight-knit structure and the 1v1 nature often provide better tools and social support to combat it. A harasser can be called out and ostracized by the local community, a powerful tool that doesn’t exist in the anonymous, team-based chaos of other genres.

Women are not more prominent in fighting games due to any inherent affinity for the genre. Instead, it is because the very structure of the games and the culture of the community tends to systematically break the barriers that plague other esports.

The 1v1 format removes toxic team dynamics, forcing a focus on individual skill. The grassroots FGC culture, built on in-person interaction, emphasizes respect for mastery and holds bad actors accountable. And a long-standing legacy of strong female pioneers has paved the way, creating a visible and normalized path for the next generation. This powerful combination makes the fighting game community a uniquely accessible and merit-based competitive space for women, truly offering them an arena of their own.

 Arthur Bonhoure–Tolfo

Sources :
Kayane – Jeux de combat, entraînement, Esport, animes, mangas… YATTA!