They say sports is one of the highest paying, exciting, and adventurous fields to be in. But they don’t mention that the same doesn’t apply to women. Even today, women’s journey in any sport is tougher compared to men’s– thanks to unequal pay, and discrimination. Despite these challenges, ExpressVPN’s blog piece reveals how women have been breaking barriers in the Women’s World Cup and changing the landscape of sports leagues across the world.
This sounds wonderful, right? Well, it truly is. Do you want to know more about what has been happening, explore some truly awe-inspiring achievements of women players, and see how the world is changing for the better? If yes, keep scrolling through this post.
Women’s Achievements In Sports
Some people believe that watching women’s sports is just not as interesting and fun as men’s. Many go as far as to say that women’s soccer is slower and more mundane. But these people have just never been a part of the 9th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. As per reports, the Women’s World Cup 2023 has seen a higher goal-scoring average in comparison to men. Women score an average of 3.32 goals per game, whereas men only do about 2.50.
READ: Discovering the Joys of Being a Fan: Why People Love to Watch Sports
Although nearly 65% of the fans declared to support their respective national teams, Marta Vieira da Silva, a celebrated soccer player from Brazil, emerged as a common favorite for everyone. And it’s easy to understand why that is.
Da Silva happens to be the six-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year award. She’s claimed to be one of the best players in the entire women’s soccer world. On top of that, 2023 might be Da Silva’s last World Cup. This makes her presence even more special.
Prize Money & Rewards In Women’s Sports
Given all this data, you might think that women soccer players are paid as handsomely as their male counterparts. Well, that’s untrue. There are glaring differences in the pay matrix of men and women players— not just in Soccer but in other sports fields as well.
To give you an example, the 2018 Men’s World Cup paid out 400 million USD. But, the 2019 Women’s World Cup only paid about 30 million USD. This sounds ridiculous, right? Here’s another one: Lionel Messi earns around 140 million USD and happens to be one of the highest-paid male football players. But Norway’s Ada Hegerberg, another highly revered female soccer player, earns only about 0.3% of him.
Can you hear the alarm bells ringing? You can blame this huge difference on gender inequality, among other things. The impact of this pay difference is not just about how richer or poorer it makes someone. Equal pay is one of the major factors that can promote gender equality and empower youth. Given the already existing disparities, such inequality only makes matters worse.
How Women’s Sports Leagues Provide Opportunities For Young Athletes
Since time immemorial, sports channels on TV have mostly featured male athletes and broadcasted men’s tournaments. But, changing things a bit and covering women’s sports leagues the same way will empower young female athletes? How? They will get to see someone like them on the big screen and be inspired by them.
With equal earning opportunities, sports will also look like a viable career option for women. Therefore, more young athletes will be enthusiastic about actually making a career in it. Sports will not just be limited to a side hobby or something they are passionate about.
Having more participation and interest in the youth will, in turn, boost the sports industry. So, it will be a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Final Worlds
Determined to overcome hurdles, the world of women’s sports is experiencing a remarkable transformation. Despite these challenges, female athletes are actively pursuing equal footing and validation, demonstrated by their remarkable feats in events like the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
These changes make young women feel more confident about pursuing a career in Sports– if that is what they want to do. Having equal pay for both men and women is going to recognize and validate women’s efforts in the field. And this will act as a stepping stone in our journey to erasing gender inequality and have more women join the field.
