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Usva Friman
About me
I am a game and esports culture researcher currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Game Research Lab and the Centre of Excellence in Game Culture Studies at Tampere University, Finland.
I defended my doctoral dissertation (monograph) Gender and game cultural agency in the post-gamer era: Finnish women players’ gaming practices, game cultural participation, and rejected gamer identity for the University of Turku in June 2022. I have also published 14 peer-reviewed research articles in edited collections from Palgrave Macmillan and Routledge and in journals such as Games and Culture and Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports. I am the first editor of the peer-reviewed research collection Pelit kulttuurina (Games as culture) published by Vastapaino in 2022.
Main positions of trust
I serve as the President of The Finnish Society for Game Research (the Finnish DiGRA chapter) and a diversity board member for the Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA).
Research topics
My research is focused on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as cultural participation and agency in digital gaming and esports. I explore these topics as experienced by people participating in these cultures – especially as women and representatives of other marginalised participant groups – but also from structural and organisational perspectives. My aim is to create new, research-based knowledge and practices in close collaboration with stakeholders in the field to initiate positive change.
My current research work is focused on two projects:
Research fields
Game Studies; Digital Culture
Selected publications
1. Friman, U. (2022). Gender and game cultural agency in the post-gamer era: Finnish women players’ gaming practices, game cultural participation, and rejected gamer identity. Doctoral dissertation (monograph). University of Turku. Open access: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024031210910
2. Friman, U., Ruotsalainen, M., & Ståhl, M. (2023). Communicating and practicing diversity, equity, and inclusion in Finnish esports organizations: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports, 1(1). Open access: https://doi.org/10.1123/jege.2022-0040
3. Friman, U. & Ruotsalainen, M. (2022). Gender and toxic meritocracy in competitive Overwatch: Case “Ellie”. In M. Ruotsalainen, M. Törhönen, & V. Karhulahti (Eds.), Modes of esports engagement in Overwatch (pp. 135–154). Palgrave Macmillan. Open access: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-82767-0_8
4. Turtiainen, R., Friman, U. & Ruotsalainen, M. (2020). “Not only for a celebration of competitive Overwatch, but also for national pride”: Sportificating the Overwatch World Cup 2016. Games and Culture, 15(4), 351–371. https://doi.org/10.1177/1555412018795791 Open access: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202106145861
5. Friman, U., Arjoranta, J., Kinnunen, J., Heljakka, K., & Stenros, J. (2022, Eds.). Pelit kulttuurina (Games as culture). Vastapaino. Open access: https://usvafriman.net/pelit-kulttuurina-kirjan-luvut-avoimesti-saatavilla
Latest publications
Communicating and Practicing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Finnish Esports Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities
Friman, U., Ruotsalainen, M. & Ståhl, M., 2023, In: Journal of Electronic Gaming and Esports. 1, 1, 14 p., jege.2022-0040 .Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Johdanto
Arjoranta, J., Friman, U., Koskimaa, R., Mäyrä, F., Sotamaa, O., Suominen, J. & Välisalo, T., 8 Dec 2023, In: Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja. 2023, p. 1-3 3 p.Translated title of the contribution :Introduction Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific
Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja 2023
Arjoranta, J. (Editor), Friman, U. (Editor), Koskimaa, R. (Editor), Mäyrä, F. (Editor), Sotamaa, O. (Editor), Suominen, J. (Editor) & Välisalo, T. (Editor), 8 Dec 2023, In: Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja. p. 156Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › Scientific › peer-review
Strength Over Gender? Discussing and Presenting the Ambivalent Female Strength in the CrossFit Games 2019
Turtiainen, R. & Friman, U., 2023, Gender and Power in Strength Sports: Strong As Feminist. Brigden, N. K., Hejtmanek, K. R. & Forbis, M. M. (eds.). Routledge, p. 29-53Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Gender and game cultural agency in the post-gamer era: Finnish women players’ gaming practices, game cultural participation, and rejected gamer identity
Friman, U., 2022, University of Turku. 210 p. (Turun yliopiston julkaisuja, Sarja B, Humaniora; no. 581)Research output: Book/Report › Doctoral thesis › Monograph
Gender and Toxic Meritocracy in Competitive Overwatch: Case “Ellie”
Friman, U. & Ruotsalainen, M., 10 Mar 2022, Modes of Esports Engagement in Overwatch. Ruotsalainen, M., Törhönen, M. & Karhulahti, V.-M. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan, p. 135-154Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Johdanto
Arjoranta, J., Friman, U., Koskimaa, R., Mäyrä, F., Sotamaa, O., Suominen, J. & Välisalo, T., 18 Dec 2022, In: Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja. p. 1-4 4 p.Translated title of the contribution :Introduction Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific
Johdanto: Pelit kulttuurina ja kulttuurissa
Friman, U., Arjoranta, J., Kinnunen, J., Heljakka, K. & Stenros, J., 2022, Pelit kulttuurina. Friman, U., Arjoranta, J., Kinnunen, J., Heljakka, K. & Stenros, J. (eds.). Vastapaino, p. 7-32Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Scientific › peer-review
Pelit kulttuurina
Friman, U. (Editor), Arjoranta, J. (Editor), Kinnunen, J. (Editor), Heljakka, K. (Editor) & Stenros, J. (Editor), 2022, Vastapaino. 363 p.Research output: Book/Report › Anthology › Scientific › peer-review
Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja 2022
Arjoranta, J. (Editor), Friman, U. (Editor), Koskimaa, R. (Editor), Mäyrä, F. (Editor), Sotamaa, O. (Editor), Suominen, J. (Editor), Välisalo, T. (Editor) & Saarikoski, P. (Editor), 18 Dec 2022, In: Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja.Translated title of the contribution :Game Studies Yearbook 2022 Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › Scientific › peer-review