The professional pay for female athletes should be the same amount as males. Yes or no, and why?

Question

This is for an Issues Analysis for a school project. Your imput would be grateful.

Answer 1

yes...otherwise it could be a form of sexism, imo

Answer 2

No, the free market should determine salaries.

Answer 3

i could see why people would want to argue about this kind of thing, but i dont think that female athletes should get paid as much because not as many people watch female sports so who is going to pay for the increase in salaries?

Answer 4

A point to add to quietfive's answer is in the example of wimbledon tennis the females and males get viewed equally in the grand final. But as males are required to play up to 5 sets and females only 3 sets then no females shouldn't as it isn't equal. If they both were required to play 5 sets and the male took 5 sets to win and the female 3 sets then yes they should get the same as they were required to do the same the female was just better than her opponent.

Answer 5

Professional sports is a business. The issue is not necessarily about gender equality and equal pay for equal work.

If the tv contract money, sponsorship deals and ticket sales, etc. are the same, then the performers (athletes) should be paid the same.  But, we know that isn't the case.

Name 3 NBA teams.  Now name 3 WNBA teams.  Could you do it?  

Since professional sports is more of an entertainment industry, the amount the athletes earn is more about their popularity - so the equality of the sexes issue seems to be secondary.  If the women's events generate the same interest and income as the men's events, then they should get the same kind of pay, obviously.