U.S. Soccer Says Women Don’t Deserve Equal Pay Because They Have Less Skill

Kim ElsesserSenior Contributor

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I cover the intersection of business, psychology and gender.

The United States Soccer Federation argued in a court filing that the gender discrimination lawsuit lodged by the U.S. women's national team (USWNT) does not have legal standing because, among other reasons, men have more ability, strength and speed.

Thirty-eight members of the women’s national team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation last March, accusing the federation of failing to promote gender equality. The women have asked for $67 million, while U.S. Soccer is asking for the suit to be dismissed. 

The federation filed its latest motion on Monday, and one of their arguments is the different abilities and skills held by male and female soccer players. The court filing argues, “it’s not a sexist stereotype to recognize the different levels of speed and strength required for the two jobs,” referring to the athletes on the men’s and women’s teams. They cite a study indicating a 10-12% performance gap between elite male and female athletes. The federation also refer to the testimony from two time Olympic gold-medal winner, Carli Lloyd, stating, “As Plaintiff Carli Lloyd’s testimony admits, the WNT could not compete successfully against the senior men’s national teams because competing against 16- or 17-year old boys ‘is about as old as [the WNT] can go.’”

“The point is that the job of MNT player (competing against senior men’s national teams) requires a higher level of skill, based on speed and strength, than does the job of WNT player (competing against senior women’s national teams),” the filing states. Men’s teams, they argue, face tougher competition as well.

   There is no argument that men are stronger than women. It’s a well-documented biological difference. It’s why we have separate teams for men and women.

Here’s what U.S. Soccer doesn’t understand. The selection of speed and strength as the criteria for pay is biased, and here’s why.

Imagine a world where women’s sports dominated for hundreds of years. Only female athletes are sports heroes, and only women’s sports are televised. Then men begin playing sports at a professional level. Would we still use strength and speed to define ability in a sport? No, we’d likely say the men’s game is too physical and lacks the finesse, intelligent playmaking and teamwork of the women’s game.  If we had to rationalize paying men less, we might further cite studies indicating men lack the flexibility of women.

We value strength and speed, because we are accustomed to strength and speed from watching years of men’s sports. However, strength and speed are not the criteria that best represent our country in competitions at the national level. Recall, the USWNT won the World Cup last summer, while the country's men failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

The USWNT believes that U.S. Soccer’s arguments actually illustrate the gender discrimination that caused the women to file the lawsuit in the first place. “This ridiculous 'argument’ belongs in the Paleolithic Era. It sounds as if it has been made by a caveman,” Molly Levinson, spokeswoman for the U.S. women, said in response to the filing.

This outcome of this lawsuit will send a message to aspiring female athletes as to whether women’s skills will be recognized and appreciated or whether the biological differences between men and women will result in women taking a back seat to the men—even when representing our country. On March 30, the judge will rule on whether the case will proceed.