Female Disadvantages in Sports
BY ANGIE SPADAFORA, GRADE 7
Since women first began participating in sports centuries ago, they have faced disadvantages in comparison to their male counterparts, despite their skill levels being equivalent, more often than not. The clear disadvantages that women endure in sports can discourage young girls from pursuing their athletic dreams.
Female and male sports players are paid unequally in proportion to their achievements. Many women’s teams earn lower monetary rewards for winning a competition or tournament than men’s teams do. In soccer, for example, women’s teams are paid $200,000 for winning a World Cup, while men’s teams are paid $1.5 million. This was brought to attention by the U.S. Women’s National Team players Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe. These players, and many others, are using their voice and influence to combat gender inequalities in the realm of sports. The US Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) has won four world championships, while the US Men’s Soccer Team has only won one championship. According to ESPN, although the Women’s Team is more successful, they are paid 50% less than the men’s team. In 2017, female players requested to have the same contract as male players, but the US Soccer Association dismissed the idea, leaving them no choice but to continue with their original contract if they desire to continue playing in tournaments.
US Women’s National Soccer Team players Megan Rapinoe (left), Crystal Dunn (middle), and Alex Morgan (right).
Another inequality in sports is that male sports players are offered more brand deals in comparison to female sports players, even if the male players are less recognized. In other words, famous brands choose to sponsor more minor male leagues than major female leagues.
You might be wondering, what are people doing to combat these injustices? Well, there are numerous organizations that have arisen in the last few decades dedicated to bridging the gender divide in sports. For example, the Women In Sports Foundation, created by tennis player Billie Jean King, supports female athletes to pursue careers in sports. The foundation was created in 1974 and since then has helped thousands of girls make incredible achievements in their respective sports. The organization has won many awards for educating people about the inequalities that female athletes face. While female athletes face significant disadvantages in sports compared to men, more and more work is being done everyday to create a world in which every little girl can dream of being a player on the USWNT.
This article was written during the GWS Summer Writing Workshop. Taught by the GWS Publication Team, the workshop hosted young journalists in grades 1 through 12, each with a passion for writing and learning. Over five weeks throughout the summer, students brainstormed, researched, outlined, drafted, revised, and ultimately produced an article about a topic related to women in business. Learn more about the workshop here.
