After years of debate, U.S. Soccer has publicly offered the same contract to women and men
The U.S. Soccer women's team is one of the most successful sports organizations in the world. They've won the Women's World Cup four times — most recently in France in 2019 — and have claimed five Olympic gold medals.
The U.S. men's team has had much less success but the women have to achieve much more to earn the same compensation. A spokesperson from U.S. soccer told Upworthy that the men's team is compensated primarily in bonuses and its players receive $17,625 if they win against a top 10 opponent. Players on the women's team have a $100,000 salary and receive $8,500 for a win against a top 4 opponent.
The men's team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Earlier this month, USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone said that the discrepancy between how the World Cup prize money is allocated is "by far the most challenging issue" when it comes to paying both teams equally.
"Until Fifa equalises the prize money that it awards to the men's and women's World Cup participants, it is incumbent upon us to collectively find a solution," she said.
Here’s the banner @ussoccer doesn’t want you to see, even though it had been approved at two previous games in East… https://t.co/nxzkbprT6c— AO Hartford (@AO Hartford) 1625167040.0
Prize money for the 2018 men's World Cup totaled $400 million with winners France taking home $38 million. The prize money for the 2019 women's World Cup was just $30m with the U.S. women's team bringing home $4 million.
The reason for the huge gap is that the women's World Cup only generates around 2% of the revenue that the men's does. The 2018 men's cup generated $6.1 billion whereas the women's brought in $131 million.
In May, the women's team filed a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) claiming it was owed equal pay. The lawsuit was dismissed, pending appeal. The judge dismissed the case because the women had been paid more per game than the men, but that was due to their achievement on the field.
The women won two World Cups during the time period covered in the lawsuit, 2015-19, while the men failed to qualify for a World Cup.
"To argue that women should have to work harder and achieve more in order to earn the same as men is simply wrong -- both morally and legally," midfielder Samantha Mewis said in a statement. "We are pleased to be moving forward with the next phase of our lawsuit so that we can finally achieve what we -- and all women -- deserve: equality."
Even though the judge dismissed the lawsuit, it appears as though USSF still got the message from the players because it just offered equal contracts to both the men's and women's soccer teams. It's the first time the USSF has done so publicly.
U.S. Soccer will offer the same pay structure to both men’s & women’s teams. It comes after years of women players… https://t.co/70hEZuraez— AJ+ (@AJ+) 1631718001.0
"U.S. Soccer firmly believes that the best path forward for all involved, and for the future of the sport in the United States, is a single pay structure for both senior national teams," the USSF said in a statement. "This proposal will ensure that USWNT and USMNT players remain among the highest paid senior national team players in the world …"
If either team doesn't agree to the contracts, the USSF will invite both player unions to negotiations to show full transparency.
Even though the USSF has offered equal contracts, the women's team is still pressing on with the lawsuit and is asking for $66 million in back pay.
Julie Foudy, captain of the 1999 World Cup-winning team says that the improvement in the way the women's team is being treated stems from the team's rise in popularity and social media. "The women's game now is so big in comparison to when the 99ers played," Foundry said. "The support that we have globally has absolutely risen. It's not just a few people in the United States – the world has our back."
- Sponsors blast U.S. Soccer for saying women's team shouldn't be ... ›
- Time to throw your support behind the U.S. women's soccer team ... ›
- U.S. women's soccer team did not turn away from the flag - Upworthy ›
- U.S. men's and women's soccer teams finally achieve equal pay - Upworthy ›
Our mouths loves chips. Our bodies not so much.Photo by 
You can eat well without giving up sweets completely.Photo by 
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.