The gender pay gap is a prominent global issue due to biases and numerous other factors that occur in the workplace. According to Census Bureau data, on average, women in the United States make 82 cents for every dollar a male makes.

One issue related to the gender pay gap has occurred in professional sports, in particular within US Soccer. For years, the men and women’s leagues have seen a wide gap in pay. In the 2018 Men’s Fifa World Cup, the US men’s team didn’t qualify; however, the women’s team did and won $4 million and the championship title. Despite that win, the women’s team earned far less than the men, who didn’t even qualify. While some may argue that the men’s team makes more money than the women’s team in profits, research found that in 2015 and since then, the women’s team made more revenue from games and titles. If they are generating more revenue for the league and performing better, then why are they seeing lower salaries? This is rooted in gender bias and how it plays into sports. 

Only half a century ago, Title IX was implemented, which prohibits gender discrimination in any education program receiving government funding. This includes athletics. Before then, women commonly weren’t allowed to participate in sports. Since then there have been major changes in the effort to promote equal rights, and players on the women’s team have been fighting for equal pay. 

There is still a long way to go. The fact that someone with the same occupation and qualifications is paid less based on their gender makes me question the true integrity of these companies and organizations. 

Not only is this gap seen in sports, but also in the workplace as a whole. Biases against women have been a major issue since women entered the workforce, especially when it comes to promotions. For example, a man’s potential may be defined by the way he moves up in the company, while a woman’s is based on her performance as an employee. Because of this, women have lost out on the pay raise they would have received from promotions. 

While there has been much progress made on these inequalities and pay gaps, it’s important to recognize these modern day issues and where they originate. Often they come from personal experiences and perceptions some may have adopted as children. Understanding and acknowledging these biases will help to promote a more equitable future for not only women, but for humanity as a whole.