China's esports industry has boomed, pulling in billions of dollars through competitive tournaments. But female gamers have been left sidelined with 90% of professional clubs exclusively for men.
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00:00Esports in China are dominated by male players, but at this competition, it's women only.
00:07Young female esports professionals created their own teams after being rejected by male competitions.
00:14It's part of a long battle against sexism, as female gamers look for recognition in the booming industry, including 23-year-old gamer Lu.
00:31But the challenges extend beyond online abuse.
00:48Despite the rapid growth of China's esports industry, which generated over US$3.7 billion in revenue in 2024, women remain sidelined.
01:00More than 90% of professional esports clubs in China are exclusively for men, leaving the opportunities for female players limited.
01:09And many female players have also had to overcome traditional family expectations.
01:15And convincing society has proved an even harder feat.
01:31The female leagues do not receive the same support as the male teams, and the disparity is clear in the prize pool.
01:39That of the country's top women's tournament saw the equivalent of US$140,000, compared to the men's, which was a staggering $9.6 million reward.
01:48With not enough monetary benefit to fund their careers, many female gamers say they're playing for passion rather than financial gain.
02:15But Lu and her teammates are adamant they will continue pushing for equality in the lucrative industry, determined to capture their well-earned spot at the top.
02:25James Lin and Rosie Greninger for Taiwan Plus.