Earlier this week, Classical 96.3 FM host Mike Duncan alluded to a report about how the FIFA’s women’s soccer teams get paid less than the men’s soccer teams. This can make any person who understands anything about economics make their skin crawl.
In the United States, women earn 40 times less than their male counterparts. Duncan was outraged by this fact and encouraged FIFA to pay the women more. This would be commendable if the women drew as much as men.
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It’s nothing nefarious but just simple economics.
This past week, numerous outlets alluded to the pay disparity between the two genders. Essentially, they asked the question: if these women’s soccer teams were a lot more exciting and more successful than the male teams then how come they’re being paid less?
In sports, women do not draw as much as the men. It’s a fact. In every sport, whether it’s soccer or basketball, a majority of sports fans pay their hard earned money, or spend their free time at home, to watch guys like LeBron James and Sidney Crosby.
During the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada last month, the Great White North hosted more than one million people. Now, compare this to Brazil’s 3.43 million during the FIFA Men’s World Cup. Brazilian stadiums were filled with an average of 53,592 fans, while the women filled half of that.
Moreover, men’s soccer generated a lot more ad revenues than women’s soccer. In 2011, the women’s World Cup garnered $5.8 million. In 2014, the men’s World Cup brought in an incredible $1.4 billion. (The revenue numbers for this year’s female soccer remains unknown).
Critics argue that FIFA is being sexist, discriminating against women. No they’re not. It’s simple economics. When you draw, you make money. When you don’t draw a dime, you don’t make money. FIFA is one of the most corrupt organization, but there is one thing they’re good at: making money.
Baddest Woman on the Planet: Ronda Rousey
Indeed, there are women in sports that draw massive numbers, and they’re being paid accordingly. Who are these women? Well, there is one in particular, and she is probably the most dangerous person on the planet: Ronda Rousey.
Rousey is a household name right now and people are clamoring to see her, whether it’s in UFC or in WWE. She’s also making a handsome sum: she’s worth an estimated $5 million and earns about $200,000 per fight, which will likely soar because she just gets more popular after each fighting event.
If more women drew like Rousey then there wouldn’t be any pay discrepancy issues in sports.
In basketball, fans want to see Kobe Bryant, not Brittney Griner.
In soccer, fans want to see Cristiano Ronaldo, not Lianne Sanderson.
In WWE, fans want to see John Cena, not Brie Bella.
In baseball, fans want to see Jose Bautista, not Cydnee Sanders.
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The list goes on.
Similar to the whole fallacious 23-cent gap discussion, these people need to start looking at the data and understanding economics.
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