Equal pay for equal sports is a good idea. However it does not work if both genders have equal chances in the sport. Tennis, for instance, has been dominated for centuries by men. Women have not enjoyed the same opportunities in tennis or basketball historically. Women also have not had equal opportunities in the 60-metre races. Two reasons are responsible: scheduling and biology.
Women's national soccer team fights for equal pay
A lawsuit by the United States Women's National Soccer Team was dismissed on the grounds that the USSF did not discriminate against females. USSF had argued women were more likely play than men and therefore were entitled to the exact same pay structure. The women's national team rebutted this argument, arguing the CBA offered did not provide the same compensation as that for men.
The women's national team soccer team has responded with a loud statement in its efforts to ensure equal play and pay. Fans of the team sing "equal play" at every professional match. In addition, the team has testified before House Oversight Committee, emphasizing how long women must work in order to earn equal pay.
An analysis of the USWNT fight to equality
An analysis of the USWNT fight against equal pay focuses on the players' experiences. The USWNT's long history of undervalued and underpaid in sports has led to a lot of problems. This lawsuit by the USWNT seeks to correct this inequality on and off of the field. The experiences of the players highlight the need to improve legislation in order close the gender pay disparity.
The USWNT's fight for equal pay started with a lawsuit filed against the United States Soccer Federation. Players sought equal pay to play. The campaign has been ongoing for over a year. The players also sought corporate sponsorships and social media posts to further their campaign. In the end, the USWNT was able to draw international attention and gain public support prior to and during the World Cup.
Due to the lawsuit, the USWNT made significant progress in defending equality in football. Megan Rapinoe, Carli and Alex Lloyd, their strong captains have voiced concern about this issue. They have also spoken publicly about the importance of equal pay in sports.
California bill requires equal prize pools for competitions that take place on public lands.
California's legislature passed a bill to require equal prize pools in sports competition on both state and local lands. Assemblymember Tasha Borner Horvath was the one who drafted the new law. Her concern about the gender pay gap within sports led to this bill. She argued that competition venues are athletes' workplaces so that men and woman should receive equal prize money.
The bill was passed unanimously and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. It only applies to state-owned sports events and does not affect private events. Examples of such events include professional surfing competitions that take place on state beaches and bicycle races that take place on state roads. However, such events will still require a permit.
Additionally, the bill contains provisions to allow gambling expansion on tribal lands. If passed, the legislation would allow casinos and horse racing tracks to accept legal sports bets. This would allow Californians and others to place wagers on these events. It also keeps the state's gambling laws under control.