Five key U.S. Women’s National Soccer players have decided to take a stand for what is right. Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Carli Lloyd, Becky Sauerbrunn and Megan Rapinoe have all filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accusing the U.S. Soccer Federation of wage discrimination on behalf of the entire U.S. women's national team. The women also demanded similar compensation, bonuses, and per diem.
For years now the U.S. Soccer Federation has claimed that the women’s proposal of an increased compensation was unacceptable. While both the U.S. men’s and women’s team play a minimum of 20 friendly matches, the top five men make an average of $406,000 while the top five women make an average of $72,000 a year. Not only this, but the women brought in $16 million to the U.S. Soccer Federation last year alone.
Now, in case you don’t know, here’s how legit our women’s team is: They have won the World Cup three times, four Olympic gold medals (and are competing for their fifth this summer in Rio) and they have won eight out of nine “CONCACAF” and “Gold Cup” championships. Along with that, they won the “SheBelieves Cup” in 2016 and are currently the favorites to win the 2016 Olympics. It’s safe to say the girls are on fire. While they all love playing for their country and representing the United States in many parts of the world, why aren’t we treating them right?
Carli Lloyd, a 12 year player for the U.S. and current co-captain stated “If I were a male soccer player who won a World Cup for the United States, my bonus would be $390,000. Because I am a female soccer player, the bonus I got for our World Cup victory last summer was $75,000.”
Not only did they win the World Cup in Canada this past year, they had the highest American television rating for soccer in history and generated over $17.7 million in profit for the U.S. Soccer federation. They bring in so many to the federation, but still don’t get paid a fair amount, what’s up with that, U.S. Soccer?
While the women have been taking names and winning games, the men’s team has remained adequate throughout the years. However, this complaint stems further than comparing stats and going after the men’s team. The women’s accomplishments only make things more compelling. The main point is that this is discriminatory, unfair and downright wrong- and it’s time for a change. To see that there is not equal treatment among male and female athletes is beyond crazy, I mean, we are in the 21st century. What does this teach future generations? What does this say to the little girl who looks up to women like Hope Solo and Carli Lloyd? What does this tell them about being a woman? Why is it okay to show them that no matter how hard they train and no matter how far they make it, they won’t be treated fairly?
These five athletes are finally taking a stand after being treated unfairly for so long and it’s time for things to change. I hope this open the eyes of Americans, especially those in the U.S. Soccer Federation. Equal play should mean equal pay, and it’s time to make that happen.
