Gender Inequality in Professional US Soccer
In the United States, the professional opportunities, which are available for women to play soccer, are small compared to men. Not only that, but after having more success in competitive play, they do not earn an equal or higher pay than men as well. Soccer has been primarily a male dominated sport with more opportunities and funds allotted for development, earnings, and venues. Even though the US Women’s Soccer team has great success and support from the soccer community, they continue to struggle with equality in regards to their earnings, recognition, and the type and degree of punishment they receive when breaking rules or guidelines. Women’s soccer in the United States is at a very young age …show more content…
In 2015, several complaints were lodged against FIFA because they provided the Women’s World Cup with only artificial turf for them to play on. This caused numerous injuries to many female players at the international level. FIFA has never hosted a major international tournament on artificial fields for men. Another difference noted is how harshly FIFA and U.S. Soccer punish women when they make mistakes or break rules set by the federations. Hope Solo was outspoken in her upset when Sweden defeated them in the Olympics and was quickly suspended from her position with the national team and released from her professional league team. As outspoken as men are in sports, this type of punishment is not something you would see in men’s soccer. This is supported by comments from people in the industry such as Rich Nichols, the executive director for the USWNT Players Association when he stated, “We also question whether this action would ever have been taken against a male player or coach, who, in the heated moments after a frustrating defeat, questioned the tactics of the opposing team” (Twitter). Men are often suspended from games for poor conduct or unfair playing, but nothing as drastic as what the women are quick to receive. Overall, the governing bodies of FIFA and U.S. Soccer have prioritized the importance of winning over fair treatment to women in the sport of
In the United States, the professional opportunities, which are available for women to play soccer, are small compared to men. Not only that, but after having more success in competitive play, they do not earn an equal or higher pay than men as well. Soccer has been primarily a male dominated sport with more opportunities and funds allotted for development, earnings, and venues. Even though the US Women’s Soccer team has great success and support from the soccer community, they continue to struggle with equality in regards to their earnings, recognition, and the type and degree of punishment they receive when breaking rules or guidelines. Women’s soccer in the United States is at a very young age …show more content…
In 2015, several complaints were lodged against FIFA because they provided the Women’s World Cup with only artificial turf for them to play on. This caused numerous injuries to many female players at the international level. FIFA has never hosted a major international tournament on artificial fields for men. Another difference noted is how harshly FIFA and U.S. Soccer punish women when they make mistakes or break rules set by the federations. Hope Solo was outspoken in her upset when Sweden defeated them in the Olympics and was quickly suspended from her position with the national team and released from her professional league team. As outspoken as men are in sports, this type of punishment is not something you would see in men’s soccer. This is supported by comments from people in the industry such as Rich Nichols, the executive director for the USWNT Players Association when he stated, “We also question whether this action would ever have been taken against a male player or coach, who, in the heated moments after a frustrating defeat, questioned the tactics of the opposing team” (Twitter). Men are often suspended from games for poor conduct or unfair playing, but nothing as drastic as what the women are quick to receive. Overall, the governing bodies of FIFA and U.S. Soccer have prioritized the importance of winning over fair treatment to women in the sport of