The United States has a good chance of winning the FIFA World Cup this year, notching its fourth title in eight attempts. Thats on top of four Olympic gold medals and a consistent No. 1 ranking the past 10 years.
That would be the womens soccer team.
The mens team, unfortunately, has never won a World Cup. Its last Olympic medal came in 1904.
So far, the U.S. National Womens Soccer has come away with shutouts against South Africa, New Zealand, Mexico and Thailand in this years World Cup. Up next is Sundays match against Chile.
In their 13-0 thumping of Thailand, the U.S. women were criticized by some for celebrating the win, as if it werent ladylike to whoop and holler after scoring the most lopsided victory in World Cup history for men or women. Let it be known, the U.S. players consoled the Thai women with hugs and handshakes at games end.
No matter the field, women are held to a different standard than men. Despite the fact that the U.S. women garner more wins, a bigger viewing audience, and have as grueling a schedule, they are paid 38 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.
Because their complaints have fallen on deaf ears, the womens team has been forced to sue the U.S. Soccer Federation for equal pay.
That the lawsuit is a backdrop to their current effort at the World Cup must be a concern.
FOR A GENERATION now, its been the U.S. women who serve as our ambassadors for soccer, the most popular sport in the world. Despite that, the U.S. Federation pampers the mens team with better marketing, equipment and accommodations.
For years, women were forced to play on artificial turf, a surface the mens team outright refused because of its increased risk of injury to players.
With their success has come bargaining power, and the U.S. women are now waging a battle for all female soccer teams to demand equal pay and playing conditions.
The women call this effort a double earn. Not only do they have to prove themselves on the field, but also in the courtroom, boardroom and living rooms around the world.
Megan Rapino, co-captain of the U.S. team, explains the multi-tasking in a recent Washington Post article: I have to do everything I have to do on the field. Then I have to do everything else to prove to you that thats enough. I have to somehow justify myself or convince you that what I just did was amazing. And I already just did it.
For todays women, such a multi-pronged defense sounds all too familiar.
Title IX was passed in 1972, prohibiting discrimination based on ones sex. We should all be well past the time when female athletes are regarded as pioneers. As such, equal pay should be no less novel.
Ill be tuning in Sunday to watch the women maintain the United Statess reputation as soccers best in the world.
Theres no one more qualified.
