Perspective: U.S. women’s soccer players deserve equal pay, and it shouldn’t take a lawsuit
By Barry Svrluga Barry Svrluga Sports columnist with beat writing experience on baseball, golf, the NFL, college basketball and college football Email Bio Follow Sports columnist March 8 at 3:44 PM This shouldn’t take long to explain, just as it shouldn’t be taking this long — never mind a lawsuit — for the women of the United States national soccer team to receive pay commensurate with that of their male counterparts.
Let’s acknowledge something first: There is a pay gap, based in gender, not just in soccer and not just in sports. It’s true across this country, from accountants to zoologists. According to the Pew Research Center, women over the age of 16 made 82 cents for every dollar made by a man in 2017. To earn what their male colleagues made annually, women would have to work 47 more days. Hard to say whether that’s more embarrassing or ludicrous.
“Yes, honey, the players on the women’s team work as hard as those on the men’s. Oh, yeah, you’re right, they totally win more games. But their efforts and results just aren’t worth as much. Sorry, kid.” This whole episode brings to mind the fight of the U.S. women’s ice hockey team two winters ago. That squad — like the soccer team, the best in the world in a given year — threatened to strike on the eve of the world championships. What they found was strength. What they found was a voice. What they got was not just more money — from no pay in non-Olympic years to $70,000 for some players — but immeasurable self-respect and self-worth.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.S. women’s soccer players sue for equal pay months before World CupU.S. women's soccer players have filed a federal class-action lawsuit seeking equal pay. The players allege they have been subject to institutionalized gender discrimination despite having the same job responsibilities as the men's national players.
Read more »
U.S. women's soccer players file gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S. Soccer Federation28 members of the U.S. national women's soccer team filed a federal gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation on Friday morning.
Read more »
Women soccer players sue for equal payThe 28 members of the current US women's national soccer team filed the lawsuit alleging ongoing 'institutionalised gender discrimination' concluding that a top-tier women's player would make only 38 percent of a similarly situated men's player.
Read more »
All 28 players on U.S. Women's Soccer team sue U.S. Soccer for allegedly violating equal pay, civil rights laws'It’s a shame that we still are fighting for treatment that reflects our achievements and contributions to the sport,' says team co-captain Carli Lloyd.
Read more »
Top women's soccer players sue U.S. Soccer for gender discriminationAll members of the reigning World Cup champion U.S. women's soccer team sue...
Read more »
Top women's soccer players sue US Soccer for gender discriminationMore than two dozen top women's soccer players sued the U.S. national soccer federation on Friday, claiming the organization pays them less than male players and denies them equal training, travel and playing conditions.
Read more »