In the case of the US national soccer teams, at one time the women's team famously earned less than the men would have, if the men had been equally successful (which they were not). This was not sexism, nor a lack of fan interest: it was because the women, who had been offered the same pay deal as the men, chose an alternative pay struct…
In the case of the US national soccer teams, at one time the women's team famously earned less than the men would have, if the men had been equally successful (which they were not). This was not sexism, nor a lack of fan interest: it was because the women, who had been offered the same pay deal as the men, chose an alternative pay structure that offered greater financial security but less upside for winning. An irony - not often noticed - is that not only would the women have earned more if they had picked the pay structure the men chose, but also the men would have earned more if they had picked the pay structure the women chose! This is because the women were very successful, but didn't benefit much from it because they had picked a more secure pay structure; the men, on the other hand, picked a pay structure that gave little security but a big upside for success, but were not very successful.)
In the case of the US national soccer teams, at one time the women's team famously earned less than the men would have, if the men had been equally successful (which they were not). This was not sexism, nor a lack of fan interest: it was because the women, who had been offered the same pay deal as the men, chose an alternative pay structure that offered greater financial security but less upside for winning. An irony - not often noticed - is that not only would the women have earned more if they had picked the pay structure the men chose, but also the men would have earned more if they had picked the pay structure the women chose! This is because the women were very successful, but didn't benefit much from it because they had picked a more secure pay structure; the men, on the other hand, picked a pay structure that gave little security but a big upside for success, but were not very successful.)