Play And Get Paid Like A Girl Analysis

Play and Get Paid Like a Girl To think it is normal to make less pay, receive less recognition, or to be declined a job position based on gender might sound like an absurd thought in today’s culture. Unfortunately, gender discrimination still exists in today’s society and is especially commonplace in women’s professional sports. Men appear to have led the way in success, talent and, agility in professional sports for as long as we can remember. However, the truth of it is many women athletes go without proper recognition for their talent, receiving equal pay, and even without equal treatment, all due to the mere fact that they are women. How someone is recognized professionally should not be defined by gender identity, but by his or her ability …show more content…
In 2009, the NFL acquired its first female NFL officiator, Sarah Thomas. However, it was not until August 2014 when the Antonio Spurs hired its first female assistant coach, making her the first full-time, salaried female coach in the NBA’s history. In January of this year, Tween Tribune Smithsonian Magazine released the announcement of the NFL’s first in history full-time woman assistant coach, in their article regarding Kathryn Smith’s position with the Buffalo Bills (Waszak 2016). The article clearly explains the progress that has been made for women in professional sports and illustrates the excitement for women who wish to be a part of coaching professional sports. This is ultimately a step up from last year when the Arizona Cardinals hired the first ever female assistant coach, Jen Welter, with the difference being she was not considered full-time. Although the successes of these particular women are momentous, such successes in professional coaching are still quite isolated and the disparity between men and women in coaching is still …show more content…
A deeper look into the realities of women in professional sports reveals how severe the gender equality remains to this day. This inequality is easily apparent in all aspects of sports, ranging from coaching to playing, recognition to income. Women athletes are ultimately paid lower salaries than any man in the men’s divisions of the same sport. Most receive less recognition for their achievements and the sports they participate in, whether they win or lose. Plenty of times women are made mockeries of and slandered. Too many times they are judged on what they wear or how they talk instead of their ability. All of this happens despite the fact that women continue to prove their worth and their abilities every day by breaking records and being successful athletes. There are plenty of amazingly talented women making differences in today’s professional sports that still go without proper recognition for their achievements. No one should be discriminated against because of the gender they identify in any area of his or her life. Ultimately the judge in professional sports should be nothing short of the numbers they put up and the talent they prove to