It’s World Cup season, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I’ve played soccer since my childhood, and have always been an avid supporter of the U.S. Women’s National Team throughout its record-holding three World Cup titles. As we finish the group round on top once again, with a record-breaking 18 goals in just three games, I’m the most confused I’ve ever been with the U.S. Soccer Federation.
Soccer isn’t the most popular sport in the United States despite its popularity around the globe, but it’s been gaining momentum and a following over the past few years, especially the U.S. national teams. With the women’s successes outshining the men’s team 10 to 1 in almost every category — friendly matches, the Olympics, the World Cup and qualifiers — it’s unfortunately unsurprising to hear that a class-action lawsuit arose in 2016 and continues today in the fight for equal pay and treatment of the women’s team. It shouldn’t take a lawsuit from 28 players, past and current, to receive the compensation they deserve, but throughout history the men’s team captured more attention from audiences, bringing in ticket revenue among other factors of pay consideration.
However, times are changing. As the women head into the elimination stages of the 2019 World Cup undefeated, reports emerge of the women’s team actually bringing in more revenue for the U.S. Soccer Federation since 2015, in terms of game revenue. When it comes to sponsorships, salaries and bonuses, the differences are absurd to say the least. In terms of differences in treatment, the women’s team played on artificial turf for the majority of the 2015 World Cup and continues to do so in many qualifying and other matches, while the men’s team is never subject to those provenly hotter and more dangerous conditions. Continuing, flight and schedule arrangements differ as well, with much tighter scheduling and less luxury for the women.
With the lawsuit still continuing, it’s extremely frustrating to see the federation not budging on their negotiations and no end to the differences and pay gaps ahead. With the lawsuit continuing alongside our U.S. women’s team’s recent successes, I can only hope their continuous ability to set records and win matches 13-0 will help their cases more than ever.
On a different note, this is my last student column article before I head off to Texas, to explore new opportunities and a change of scenery at Texas Christian University this fall. I’d like to thank everyone at the Daily Journal for pushing me to explore and debate new topics and for letting me express my creativity through journalism this past year. As I reflect on my time at the Daily Journal, my articles and all this internship has given me, I’m extremely grateful for this student columnist position I’ve held. Who knows — maybe I’ll write some opinion columns every now and then in the future.
Brooke Hanshaw is a recent graduate of Aragon High School in San Mateo. Student News appears in the weekend edition. You can email Student News at news@smdailyjournal.com.
Hello Brooke - thank you for your thoughtful columns that you have contributed. They were always well written so I believe you will have a great future in whatever you are pursuing. Good luck in your studies and I, for one, will miss your columns. You are the future of this country and we are well of knowing that we will be in good hands.
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Hello Brooke - thank you for your thoughtful columns that you have contributed. They were always well written so I believe you will have a great future in whatever you are pursuing. Good luck in your studies and I, for one, will miss your columns. You are the future of this country and we are well of knowing that we will be in good hands.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.