The US women’s national soccer team (USWNT) filed a lawsuit against the U.S Soccer Federation for discriminating against them on the basis of sex by denying them the same working conditions and professional development as the male team despite their achievements. They also had gender-based pay disparities against the players in "nearly every aspect of their employment", according to the women's team.
After an intense battle with the US Soccer Federation, they finally reached a settlement on working conditions with the US women’s soccer team the gender-discrimination lawsuit. Unfortunately, the settlement does not address
pay inequity after a judge ruled in May that the suit could only continue if it focused on the difference in working conditions between the men's team and the women's team.
The federation has now agreed to provide the women’s team working conditions similar to that of the men’s team, including a chartered flight policy for team travel, venues for team events, hotel accommodations, and specialized professional support services. This was a huge success as proper working conditions for women is something that should have come around a long time ago.
What have they achieved till now and what is the difference in achievements between them and the men's team?
The USWNT won four FIFA World Cup titles and four gold medals in the Olympics and regularly won CONCACAF championships since its beginning.
on the other hand, the U.S men’s national team has not won a FIFA World Cup till now.
The lawsuit alleged that American female players were paid a total of $1.725 million in bonuses after winning the World Cup in 2015 while the men's team was paid $5.375 million in bonuses in 2014 by the same federation, even though they didn't win.
U.S. Soccer has previously said that the women are paid differently because “they specifically asked for and negotiated a completely different contract than the men’s national team, despite being offered, and rejecting, a similar pay-to-play agreement during the past negotiations.”
Fortunately, the team is still committed to achieving equal pay for the sake of the players who will make the team after them and play for their country. They intend to file an appeal to the court’s decision against equal pay.
With inspiring sportswomen standing up for what they deserve like this, a future with no gender discrimination in sports draws closer.
.
Comments