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The biggest fight facing the U.S. women’s soccer team isn’t on the field

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The biggest fight facing the U.S. women’s soccer team isn’t on the field

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"Unequal pay is just one of the many discriminatory practices the U.S. women’s team has confronted and challenged since its formation. Even though the U.S. women’s squad has been successful for decades with multiple World Cup and Olympic titles, certainly outdoing the men’s team they’ve had to constantly fight for better treatment. With every inequity, the team leveraged its unprecedented success to force change. Given that, the continued second-class status of the team in the USSF framework illustrates a larger conundrum in women’s sports: Winning alone is not enough to eradicate inequality. The deeply rooted assumptions about women’s inferiority in physical pursuits require female athletes to win on the field and advocate off it to make strides toward gender equality."

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U.S. forward Alex Morgan, second from right, celebrates her hat trick with defender Tobin Heath (17) and other teammates during a soccer match against Japan in July. (Colin E. Braley/AP)

The U.S. women's national soccer team takes to the field Tuesday to open its World Cup run and defend its title as world champion. But the World Cup isn't the only battle the team is fighting. Just three months ago, 28 of its members filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation, the country's national governing body for soccer.

The lawsuit argues that the USSF discriminates against women by paying them less than members of the men's team despite the women's team's far greater success in international competitions. As described in the lawsuit, if the men and women played 20 matches each and each squad won all the games, female players would earn a maximum of $99,000, while male players would earn an average of $263,320.

Unequal pay is just one of the many discriminatory practices the U.S. women's team has confronted and challenged since its formation. Even though the U.S. women's squad has been successful for decades - with multiple World Cup and Olympic titles, certainly outdoing the men's team - they've had to constantly fight for better treatment.

With every inequity, the team leveraged its unprecedented success to force change. Given that, the continued second-class status of the team in the USSF framework illustrates a larger conundrum in women's sports: Winning alone is not enough to eradicate inequality. The deeply rooted assumptions about women's inferiority in physical pursuits require female athletes to win on the field and advocate off it to make strides toward gender equality.

Women have had to fight for equal treatment since the earliest days of female sports. Advocacy increased in the 1970s with the rise of the women's liberation movement. Female pioneers broke barriers and took to the courts, fields and stadiums in record numbers. Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially complete the Boston Marathon in 1967; a legal victory in 1974 granted girls the right to play Little League Baseball; and tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the 1973 match dubbed the Battle of the Sexes.

Yet society appeared to view these female accomplishments as evidence of women's capability, not their equality. When Switzer ran the 26.2-mile race, she knew she needed to finish "or no one would believe that women could do it." Such achievements made female athleticism more acceptable, but women's sports remained maligned in America.

The history of the U.S. women's soccer team exemplifies the grudging, incomplete acceptance of female athletes. Soccer organizers initially believed women were physically unable to compete. When women did participate, it was often in modified events on shorter fields for shorter durations. It was not until the 1980s, 70 years into its existence, that the USSF included women, and even then only after the threat of a lawsuit.

The USSF haphazardly formed a squad for the 1985 international Mundialito tournament. The team only practiced together in a three-day camp on a field some described as a cow pasture. Illustrative of the USSF's view of female inferiority, the federation provided the women previously used uniforms without any lettering and $10 a day for food.

FIFA's misogynistic view of women's soccer paralleled the USSF's. In 1991, the international soccer federation launched the first women's world championship. But because of fears the tournament would flop, it refused to grant the event the "World Cup" title, instead dubbing it the World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup, or, colloquially, the "M&M's Cup."

Organizers also considered adopting changes to accommodate the players' supposed biological shortcomings, including using a youth-size ball. Eventually, they used the standard-size ball, but games were shortened from 90 minutes to 80, out of concerns about women's lack of stamina. "They were afraid our ovaries were going to fall out if we played 90!" joked U.S. player April Heinrichs.

Wearing uniforms previously used by a boys' youth team, the U.S. women's team won the tournament, the start of an impressive run in international competition. The team would finish third in the 1995 Women's World Cup (FIFA permitted the use of the "World Cup" title after the successes of the 1991 tournament) and captured gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the first Olympics to include women's soccer.

The team used this success to try to secure greater equality for women's soccer. Before the 1996 Olympics, a dispute about bonuses had surfaced. The USSF promised bonuses only if the women's team earned the gold medal; the players wanted payment for silver or bronze as well, the same terms that had been guaranteed to the men. In defense of the federation's position, USSF Executive Director Hank Steinbrecher remarked, "We cannot reward mediocrity." His postulation that a second- or third-place finish at the Olympics was mediocre - but only for the women - underscored a belief that women's victories were substandard.

But the players refused to accept this condescending logic. In December 1995, nine U.S. women's team members boycotted the Olympic training camp in protest. The public largely backed the women in their quest for better pay. "It's a very vogue thing to be on the side of the women on this," Steinbrecher complained. Public support stemmed from the women's success and the patriotic fervor tied to international competition, especially since the Olympics was being held in the United States.

But the team's racial makeup - eight of the nine protesting players were white - as well as the players' presumed heterosexuality, also drove support for the team's demands. Studies show that fans view white female athletes as more conventionally feminine, and therefore more acceptable, than athletes of color, who are often stigmatized as inappropriately masculine and muscular. Moreover, most of the athletes sported toned frames and long ponytails, markers of heterosexual femininity. Fans could therefore interpret the athletes as upholding gender norms rather than threatening them.

The USSF caved and agreed to pay bonuses for winning gold or silver.

The 1999 Women's World Cup was a turning point for women's soccer in America. Forty million television viewers watched as the U.S. team defeated China on penalty kicks. The final was not only the most watched women's sporting event at the time, but also the most watched soccer game in U.S. history, men's or women's. The iconic image of a shirtless Brandi Chastain, who had ripped off her jersey in jubilation, was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The victory granted the U.S. women's team a greater claim to, and a bigger platform to fight for, better pay.

After the World Cup win, the players rejected short-term contracts on the same financial terms, demanding greater equity with their male counterparts. When the USSF refused, still somehow seeing the women as inferior to the men, even though the men had won neither Olympic gold nor a World Cup, the entire U.S. women's team boycotted the 2000 Australian Cup. This prompted the USSF to grudgingly agree to negotiate. The new collective bargaining agreement established terms closer to what the players had demanded - and, importantly, more closely aligned the earning potential of the women with that of the men.

After an impressive run that included three Olympic gold medals and three top-three World Cup finishes, the U.S. women's team took another stand against gender inequality ahead of the 2015 World Cup. The athletes joined players from other nations to file a gender discrimination lawsuit against FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association for trying to play some of those games on artificial turf. Male players were never asked to play on such surfaces because of the increased likelihood of injury. Although the players eventually conceded, they laid the groundwork for future change, as all games this year will be played on grass.

The ongoing gender discrimination lawsuit looms over the U.S. players as they take the field Tuesday against Thailand. By participating in the tournament, the women have already outperformed the men, who did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup. But as history shows, it will take more than reclaiming the World Cup title to convince the USSF that women deserve true equality. Until the USSF, and other sports organizers, stop viewing female athletes as inherently inferior and their play as fundamentally substandard, women will have to combine on-field victories with off-field activism. A lawsuit by the No. 1 team in the midst of the sport's biggest international forum sets a powerful example.

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Perspective | The biggest fight facing the U.S. women's soccer team isn't on the field

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In spite of far greater success than the men, the women have had to go to court to try to secure equal pay.

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28 members of the U.S. Women’s National Team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Federation

The lawsuit argues “The USSF (U.S. Soccer Federation) discriminates against women by paying them less than members of the men’s team despite the women’s team’s far greater success in international competitions.”  But Both played 20 matches each and if each squad won all the games, female players would earn around $99,000, and the male players would earn an average of $263,320.

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supporting there is unequal pay between women and men soccer:

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supporting there is unequal pay between women and men soccer:

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Carli Lloyd: Why I'm Fighting for Equal Pay 

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Carli Lloyd: Why I'm Fighting for Equal Pay 

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Carli Lloyd states "So when I joined four teammates in filling a Wage Discrimination complaint against U.S. Soccer late last month, it had nothing to do with how much I love to play for my country.t had everything to do with what’s right and what’s fair, and with upholding a fundamental American concept: equal pay for equal play. Even if you are female. Simply put, we’re sick of being treated like second-class citizens. It wears on you after a while. We’ve gotten nowhere negotiating with our federation for years, and it became clear to us that nothing had changed. That’s why we went to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with our complaint. I won’t bury you with numbers, but there are a few important basic facts worth noting. Each year, the United States men’s and women’s national teams each play a minimum of 20 friendly matches. The top five players on the men’s team make an average of $406,000 each year from these games. The top five women are guaranteed only $72,000 each year.

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Carli Lloyd: Why I’m Fighting for Equal Pay (Published 2016)

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A co-captain of the United States women’s national team writes about why she and four teammates filed a wage-discrimination complaint against U.S. Soccer.

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Different Pay Structures for the Men and the Women:  

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How Much Less Are Female Soccer Players Paid?

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How Much Less Are Female Soccer Players Paid?

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Both the men’s and the women’s teams are required to play 20 exhibition games (also called friendlies) every year. But the women contend that the pay for those games is higher for the men, even after factoring in the women’s salaries of $72,000 per player (the men are not paid a salary). The payment and bonus structure for the men’s and women’s teams have many differences.

Smaller World Cup Bonuses:

According to the complaint, the pay structure for advancement through the rounds of the World Cup is so skewed that, in 2015, the women’s team earned $2 million for winning the World Cup while the men made $9 million without advancing beyond the round of 16 in 2014. In addition, the complaint says that bonuses for placing first, second, or third are much higher for men.

Lower Per Diem and Sponsor Appearances:

U.S. Soccer pays women a smaller daily allowance (also known as per diem) than men when they are in camp at domestic and international venues. It also pays women $3,000 per sponsor appearance, compared with $3,750 for men.

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How Much Less Are Female Soccer Players Paid? (Published 2016)

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Members of the United States women’s national soccer team includes several examples of wage discrimination in their complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

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An agreement finalized with the U.S. Soccer Federation and the women's players on unequal pay:

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An agreement finalized with the U.S. Soccer Federation and the women's players on unequal pay:

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U.S. Soccer and Women’s Players Agree to Settle Equal Pay Lawsuit

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U.S. Soccer and Women’s Players Agree to Settle Equal Pay Lawsuit

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"Under the terms of the agreement, the women a group of several dozen current and former players that includes some of the world’s most popular and decorated athletes will share $24 million in payments from U.S. Soccer."

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U.S. Soccer and Women’s Players Agree to Settle Equal Pay Lawsuit (Published 2022)

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Under the terms of the agreement, the athletes will receive $24 million and a pledge from the soccer federation to equalize pay for the men’s and women’s national teams.

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Gender Discrimination Lawsuit-

- 28 members of the U.S. Women’s National Team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Federation

-The lawsuit argues “The USSF(U.S. Soccer Federation) discriminates against women by paying them less than members of the men’s team despite the women’s team’s far greater success in international competitions.”

-Both played 20 matches each and if each squad won all the games, female players would earn around $99,000, and the male players would earn an average of $263,320.

FIFA’s Misogynistic View-

-The USSF(U.S. Soccer Federation) promised bonuses only if the women’s team earned gold

-the players wanted payment for silver or bronze as well, the same terms that had been guaranteed to the men. Director Hank Steinbrecher reacted and said “We cannot reward mediocrity”

Biased in Equity Pay

-In December of 1995, around nine U.S. women’s team members boycotted the Olympic training camp in protest. The public largely backed the women in their quest for better pay. “It’s a very vogue thing to be on the side of the women on this,” Steinbrecher complained.

-eight of the nine protesting players were white as well as the players. However, studies show that fans view white female athletes as more conventionally feminine, and therefore more acceptable than athletes of color, who are often stigmatized as inappropriately masculine and muscular.

-Unequal pay has been an issue for the U.S. women’s team and has been confronted and challenged since its formation. Even though the U.S. women’s team has been successful for decades with multiple World Cup and Olympic titles,  outdoing the men’s team as they haven’t won a single title. Yet these women have been constantly fighting to get treated better.

-Women have been fighting for equal treatment since the earliest days of female sports. With the rise of the women’s liberation movement.

-The USSF illustrates a larger conundrum in women’s sports by saying “Winning alone is not enough to eradicate inequality.”

Inclusion in Women’s Soccer

-In 1991, the International Soccer Federation launched the first women’s world championship. But because of fears the tournament would flop, it refused to grant the event the “World Cup” title, instead dubbing it the World Championship for Women’s Football for the M&M’s Cup, or, colloquially, the “M&M’s Cup.”

-Organizers also considered adopting changes to accommodate the players’ supposed biological shortcomings, including using a youth-size ball. Eventually, they used the standard-size ball, but games were shortened from 90 minutes to 80, out of concerns about women’s lack of stamina. “They were afraid our ovaries were going to fall out if we played 90!” joked U.S. player April Heinrichs.

-Wearing uniforms previously used by the boy’s youth team, the U.S. women’s team won the tournament, the start of an impressive run in international competition. The team would finish third in the 1995 Women’s World Cup. FIFA permitted the use of the word “World Cup” title after the successes of the 1991 tournament and captured gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games, the first Olympics to include women’s soccer.

Turning points for U.S. Soccer

-In 1999 the Women’s World Cup had a turning point for women’s soccer in America. An average of 40 million viewers watched as the U.S. team defeated China during penalty kicks.

-This shows that the women’s team has been achieving more since 2000.

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The gender pay gap between the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team and the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team is a stark reflection of systemic inequality, rooted in longstanding gender biases that undervalue women's sports, despite the undeniable success and accomplishments the U.S. Women's National Team has achieved.

"Women have had to fight for equal treatment since the earliest days of female sports. Advocacy increased in the 1970s with the rise of the women’s liberation movement. Female pioneers broke barriers and took to the courts, fields, and stadiums in record numbers. Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially complete the Boston Marathon in 1967; a legal victory in 1974 granted girls the right to play Little League Baseball; and tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the 1973 match dubbed the Battle of the Sexes."