Equal Pay for Equal Play
Donation protected
For winning the World Cup, the U.S. women’s team received millions less than the losing men’s teams.
Pitch in $5 to support pay equity and provide the team with a bonus from the fans. Because if FIFA won’t do it, we will.
Did you shout and cheer and jump and cry when our heroes won the World Cup last week?
Yes, yes you did.
Did you know that our women got paid $6 millon less from FIFA for winning the World Cup than the men's team got paid for losing in the first of the knockout rounds last year?
That's wrong. So what can you do about it?
Pitch in! Provide the team with a bonus from the fans to say thank you. By giving our female athletes $5 or $20 or $100 or more, you can show them you believe they deserve the same prize money as the men.
Consider it a fan-funded bonus or a tip jar. If there were a tip jar next to your television as you watched the first goal. And the second. And the third. And the fourth. You would've thrown your entire purse or wallet into it.
It's not too late. Let's do this.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How will the team get the money?
On August 16 and 19, the U.S. Women's National Team will play two friendly matches against Costa Rica. The first one is in Pittsburgh, the second in Chattanooga.
At the end of the game in Chattanooga, we'll present a check from the fans to the team. A big check, with your names on it.
It'll be a concrete (and cash-backed) symbol of support from U.S. fans to the team that won one of America's greatest sports victories.
2. Isn't it crazy to try to raise $100,000 from fans?
Maybe. But so is thinking you can score a goal from midfield in the World Cup final.
3. Aren't female athletes paid less because [insert excuse here]?
The story we're often told about the pay gap in professional sports is that it's OK to pay women athletes less because their games are less exciting, so less people watch, and less money comes in from television revenues and sponsorships.
But this team proved that these claims simply aren't true. The final was a classic, with perhaps the greatest goal in World Cup final history (men or women), and with highlights that were more exciting than almost the entire NBA season. The final was also the most watched soccer match in U.S. history.
More broadly, pay inequity in both amateur and pro sports is a real problem. For example, 30% of pro sports provide more prize money to men than women. Check out these stats if you want a fuller picure. (Or read this or this or this.)
And pay inequity in sports is just one aspect of the larger problem of wage inequity in the economy as a whole.
4. How else can I support women's soccer?
The best thing you can do is support your local National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team. Buy tickets to an upcoming game. If you live near Boston, Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Portland, Seattle, Washington DC, New Jersey, or Rochester, NY, you can get to a game. If that's too far, order NWSL merchandise like a game jersey or t-shirt.
Whether or not you can donate, don't forget to share this campaign, using the button above.
And, while you're at it, make sure to sign this petition to tell FIFA's executive committe to pay women players fairly.
5. Is this a serious campaign?
Absolutely. Pay inequity is a serious problem. It may be unusual to pitch in to fix a problem like this, but it's a start.
Pitch in $5 to support pay equity and provide the team with a bonus from the fans. Because if FIFA won’t do it, we will.
Did you shout and cheer and jump and cry when our heroes won the World Cup last week?
Yes, yes you did.
Did you know that our women got paid $6 millon less from FIFA for winning the World Cup than the men's team got paid for losing in the first of the knockout rounds last year?
That's wrong. So what can you do about it?
Pitch in! Provide the team with a bonus from the fans to say thank you. By giving our female athletes $5 or $20 or $100 or more, you can show them you believe they deserve the same prize money as the men.
Consider it a fan-funded bonus or a tip jar. If there were a tip jar next to your television as you watched the first goal. And the second. And the third. And the fourth. You would've thrown your entire purse or wallet into it.
It's not too late. Let's do this.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How will the team get the money?
On August 16 and 19, the U.S. Women's National Team will play two friendly matches against Costa Rica. The first one is in Pittsburgh, the second in Chattanooga.
At the end of the game in Chattanooga, we'll present a check from the fans to the team. A big check, with your names on it.
It'll be a concrete (and cash-backed) symbol of support from U.S. fans to the team that won one of America's greatest sports victories.
2. Isn't it crazy to try to raise $100,000 from fans?
Maybe. But so is thinking you can score a goal from midfield in the World Cup final.
3. Aren't female athletes paid less because [insert excuse here]?
The story we're often told about the pay gap in professional sports is that it's OK to pay women athletes less because their games are less exciting, so less people watch, and less money comes in from television revenues and sponsorships.
But this team proved that these claims simply aren't true. The final was a classic, with perhaps the greatest goal in World Cup final history (men or women), and with highlights that were more exciting than almost the entire NBA season. The final was also the most watched soccer match in U.S. history.
More broadly, pay inequity in both amateur and pro sports is a real problem. For example, 30% of pro sports provide more prize money to men than women. Check out these stats if you want a fuller picure. (Or read this or this or this.)
And pay inequity in sports is just one aspect of the larger problem of wage inequity in the economy as a whole.
4. How else can I support women's soccer?
The best thing you can do is support your local National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team. Buy tickets to an upcoming game. If you live near Boston, Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Portland, Seattle, Washington DC, New Jersey, or Rochester, NY, you can get to a game. If that's too far, order NWSL merchandise like a game jersey or t-shirt.
Whether or not you can donate, don't forget to share this campaign, using the button above.
And, while you're at it, make sure to sign this petition to tell FIFA's executive committe to pay women players fairly.
5. Is this a serious campaign?
Absolutely. Pay inequity is a serious problem. It may be unusual to pitch in to fix a problem like this, but it's a start.
Organizer
Alex Little
Organizer
Nashville, TN