Everything is glorious correct? A leader in sports is offering to up the bonuses for success of women to the standards of their men counterparts. Equality at last! Well, not exactly; I’m pessimistic about the intent behind the company’s gesture. Though Adidas announced their decision to increase the funds for the payouts to the FIFA champions, the intent can be questioned due to timing. Interesting, to me at least, is that the entire team, of the favorites to win the title, announces a lawsuit against inequality in pay, then the sponsor of the event decides to match salaries for winners. If Adidas had come out with this news before the USNWT announcement, then it could be seen as a true maneuver to “breaking barriers” that is claimed. I see it two other ways however: one, the company saw an opportunity to be the first athletic institution to appear to back the women’s movement for equal pay; and two, if predicted the world leading team, which is engaged against their own organizing body for mistreatment, is very likely to engage with the most prestigious women’s soccer event next. The likeliness can be deduced from Rapinoe’s criticism of FIFA’s pay structure months later, weeks before the start of the Adidas’s sponsored event.
Link: http://www.espn.com/espnw/sports/article/26815264/rapinoe-critical-fifa-unequal-prize-money
USWNT Lawsuit Media Portfolio 