Groupies & Stans: Feminised Fan Practices in LoL Esports – Sang & Piercy (ERNC25)

Описание: This presentation by Tina Tian Sang and Adeline K. Piercy of the University of Alberta examines community sentiment toward feminised fan practices in League of Legends esports.

Through investigative ethnography across social platforms such as Twitter/X, Reddit and YouTube, and informed by feminist gaming and fan studies, the research unpacks how “stigma of legitimacy” emerges between player-spectator fan norms and mainstream newcomer practices often imported from idol cultures.

Findings reveal that feminised fan labour—such as fan art, gift campaigns, and organised fanbases—builds visibility and cultural legitimacy for the scene, yet is frequently dismissed by traditional fan cohorts through gendered and nationalist gatekeeping. These tensions mirror broader gaming subculture conflicts between grassroots identity and accelerating commercialisation.

By foregrounding these dynamics, the project challenges fandom hierarchies, complicates assumptions of “authentic” game knowledge, and advocates for more inclusive community and industry frameworks in Olympic-scale esports delivery and collegiate outreach.

Keywords: LoL esports, fan practices, stans, feminism, gender, community sentiment, inclusivity

About the ERN Conference 2025:
The Esports Research Network Conference 2025 took place online from November 12–14, 2025 as a continuous, 72-hour global livestream. Guided by the theme “Future Realities: Esports as a Global Lab,” the event explored how esports serves as a living laboratory for understanding digital transformation across education, media, technology, and society. This innovative digital-first format followed the sun across three regional hubs, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania & Michigan State University (Americas), Staffordshire University (EMEA), and UNSW Sydney (Asia-Pacific), creating a nonstop, interconnected academic experience available to participants worldwide.

This ambitious production was made possible through the support of Corsair for Business, whose Elgato technology powered high-quality broadcasting and seamless livestreaming across all three hubs. ERNC25 continues the network’s mission to unite scholars, practitioners, and students while fostering open, global collaboration in esports research.

Full abstracts for all presentations can be viewed in the official Book of Abstracts at: https://book.esportsresearch.net

Website: https://esportsresearch.net