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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be annoyed at fair pay in women's football comment

37 replies

dizzy125 · 17/07/2019 22:16

Just finished a mini party for my son's birthday. Few close relatives. Not live in bf had a packed day but has been helpful..went to buy some buffet food and bought a really nice birthday gift. We both collapsed on sofa after last guest left and he's had a few whiskys and he starts telling me a story about an Australian top level women's football team who got beat by a male under 19s football team 7-0 and the match was meant to be to showcase fair pay for women in football.. bf was of the opinion that women didn't deserve equal pay in football because they don't play at the same level as men. I am usually outspoken and happy to discuss big topics about women's rights and the world in general and he knows this and In every way my bf is a modern man..cooks, cleans, is a good dad but consistently he comes out with dumb comments about feminism and women's rights. And I'm baffled how he can think so little of women. I said to him 'I'm too tired to argue about women's right to equal pay right now' and he got angry and said 'you get too emotionally involved'. AIBU or was he being a dick.

OP posts:
AngeloMysterioso · 17/07/2019 23:53

In theory yes, it should be that same job=same pay. But in most countries women’s football doesn’t make nearly as much money as men’s, which is reflected in their lower earning power. Just like rugby and cricket players don’t make as much. It sucks, but it isn’t unfair. Women’s football just isn’t a lucrative industry in the same way men’s is.

EBearhug · 17/07/2019 23:57

One of the main reasons they don't play at the same level as men is because there just hasn't been the same level of funding. Before this world cup, a lot of the England players had to have other jobs as well as football, so couldn't concentrate on it like men could. The USA has invested in women's football far longer than most of the rest of the world and that is reflected in their dominance of the women's game.

They don't play at the same level as men because they aren't paid the same.

AngeloMysterioso · 18/07/2019 00:02

The thing is that the money in men’s football is self-generated. Women’s football just doesn’t make a lot of money so the funding would have to come from elsewhere, and public resources are stretched wafer thin as it is.

KC225 · 18/07/2019 03:05

I read yesterday that one in eight men think they could beat Serena Williams at tennis. Serena Williams! One in eight men. Some people do not take women's sports seriously.

Sandybval · 18/07/2019 03:51

As someone has said, at the moment they don't generate enough money to get paid equally as a sport. Hopefully following their success in the world cup this will change, but sadly that will take time. I know people have their own views on cheerleaders, but I was shocked to find out that the most prolific cheerleaders in the world are paid minimum wage, and are unable to take advantage of any endorsements etc; even though they generate loads of money!

Ohrats · 18/07/2019 03:55

The average attendance for WSL games last season was about 900 people.

If people want women footballers to be paid similarly to their male counterparts, they need to start paying to go to games on a regular basis.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 18/07/2019 03:56

Anyone else trying to work out how the son’s birthday party tied in to this anecdote??

newmomof1 · 18/07/2019 04:02

I think all PPs are missing the point...
I think YABU.

Birdie6 · 18/07/2019 04:04

It's a chicken-and-egg problem at the moment. Women don't get paid enough , most women players have to work at other jobs as well as training and playing their sport. So they don't get a lot of training time, or bonding with the other players. And the fact is that there are not a lot of women's teams yet, so the women players lack competition at the moment.

The team your BF was talking about was the Australian Women's soccer team , and yes it was beaten by an under-15 boys team in a practice match . That happened 3 years ago in 2016, when the women's sport was in it's early days , and they routinely played against male teams to sharpen their skills since there was little female competition at the time. The fact was, this was a practice game , so it really shouldn't have been plastered all over the news . Would a male practice game make the headlines ? Probably not, no matter who they were playing. People who don't like women's sport will always use this sort of thing as an example of "how girls can't play at top level".

araiwa · 18/07/2019 04:36

Russia 2018 generated $6 billion

France 2019 generated $131 million

In russia, 400m was awarded to paticipating teams, how would you suggest that France 2019 awarded 400m with an income of 131 million?

Helloitsmemargaret · 18/07/2019 05:54

The fact France '19 didn't generate the same money is self fulfilling. The money comes from TV licencing, sponsorship and product licencing. There has been an assumption that there is no audience for women's football so no commercial value was given.

Yet, France '19 was watched by over one billion people. That's a huge audience by any standards. I think (hope) that the media and brands have woken up to the potential. Barclays have already agreed to sponsorship of the WSL this year which will now be professional.

The standard this year was so much higher than 4 years ago and that will only improve. I've been to a lot of games - both men's and women's and they are completely different experiences. Women's are far less boozy / tribal but far far more family friendly.

InTheHeatofLisbon · 18/07/2019 06:00

Aside from the casual misogyny, which is bad enough imo, he got angry because you didn't want to engage with his bullshit?

What a prince.

Blueoasis · 18/07/2019 06:00

I read yesterday that one in eight men think they could beat Serena Williams at tennis. Serena Williams! One in eight men. Some people do not take women's sports seriously.

They would only think that when safely in the stands or on the couch at home. You give them the opportunity and put them in front of her, they'll back down real quick. Grin A few men probably need that reality check to be honest, maybe it should be organised.

AngelsOnHigh · 18/07/2019 06:26

Australia has a population of 25 million. Not a big pool of people to pick a world class soccer team from so I guess I agree with your BF to a degree.

However, I much prefer to watch womens football. Much more entertaining.

Snoozysnoozy · 18/07/2019 06:40

I read yesterday that one in eight men think they could beat Serena Williams at tennis.

No you didn't. 1 in 8 men think they could win a a single point in a game of tennis. In 1998 Venus and Serena Williams took on a man ranked 203 on the world and lost.

As for funding men and women's teams even evenly funded would not play at an equal standard.

BadLad · 18/07/2019 06:44

If this is the article in question, then 1 in 33 women thought the same.

www.google.co.jp/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/sport/shortcuts/2019/jul/15/why-do-so-many-men-think-they-could-win-a-point-off-serena-williams

herculepoirot2 · 18/07/2019 06:47

Women’s football isn’t as good to watch as men’s (yet). There is less money in it, not just because of sexism - although I grant you, there’s a lot of it about - but because of skill and theatre.

herculepoirot2 · 18/07/2019 06:48

A few men probably need that reality check to be honest, maybe it should be organised.

Nah. Serena Williams is a top sports professional, not a circus act. This wouldn’t be worth her time.

DtPeabodysLoosePants · 18/07/2019 07:38

He's a dick. This isn't his first misogynistic comment and he then got angry with you. Get rid, he's shown you who he is and it's not pretty.

truthrn · 19/07/2019 20:30

@EBearhug
Using your logic, non-league players aren't as good as Premier league players because they aren't paid as much

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 19/07/2019 20:41

Male footballers are grossly overpaid.

And women don't have the same muscle mass as men - that's the only reason the men beat the women. Unequal physical match. Skill doesn't come into it.

Your DH doesn't deserve praise for doing what he should be doing. The domestic responsibilities are equally his.

Lifecraft · 19/07/2019 22:07

Male footballers are grossly overpaid.

Why? It's not coming from the public purse. It's coming from ticket sales, tv rights and sponsorship because men's football is the most lucrative sport in the world.

Is Tom Cruise grossly overpaid?

If female footballers were on equal pay, are you happy for your taxes to go up to fund it. Because the income women's football generates ain't going to pay Ellen White £300K a week. Or even £30K a week. £3k a week perhaps.

Fibbke · 19/07/2019 22:10

Why don't you go and watch your local women's team play in September?

NailsNeedDoing · 19/07/2019 22:19

The pay that men get is a reflection of the money they generate because of the interest that people have in them.

The fact is, people who like to pay attention to football players skills are going to choose to watch the sex that are most interesting and better at it. Why wouldn't they? Your bf is right.

Lazypuppy · 19/07/2019 22:32

When it comes to football i agree with your partner.

Women don't play to the same standard as men yet.
The sponsorship and income streams aren't there to justify the insane salaries that mens football pays yet.

Its getting there, but in my opinion women shouldn't be paid the same as the men just cause their women.