Will there always be a gender pay gap in professional sports?

Some argue that the gender pay in professional sports is at least understandable and is simply beyond just a gender bias. Men get paid more because of historical dominance and bias but also because of higher viewership and media coverage.

Historical precedent -Professional sports have a longstanding history of male dominance. This legacy influences current salary structures and sponsorship deals, often favouring male athletes. For example, the England Lionesses receive a lower salary than the men’s team due to less opportunity for sponsorship and lower levels of financial backing. Longstanding cultural attitudes also hinder support for women’s sports, resulting in underinvestment.

Male sport is historically more enjoyable and profitable. It can take generations to drive change in societal attitudes

Viewership and revenue disparities - Men’s sports generally attract larger audiences, leading to higher revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and broadcasting rights. This financial disparity translates into higher salaries for male athletes as they draw higher economic capital. Additionally, sponsors tend to favour male sports for this reason, prolonging the struggle to rectify funding imbalances. 

Media coverage - Men’s sports receive far more media coverage, boosting their marketability. This lack of visibility for women’s sports results in lower pay and investments. Sports media outlets often prioritise male events and fixtures over female as the demand to watch the men’s games is higher. This results in an increased audience for their channel/platform.

However, others believe these arguments justifying the gender pay gap have flaws. More and more female athletes are receiving popularity and success alongside institutional changes to propel themselves to the same level of pay as equally popular and successful men.

Increasing popularity of women’s sports - Women’s sports are gaining popularity, with significant increases in viewership and attendance. High-profile athletes such as the Lionesses and Emma Raducanu are gaining popularity and increasing viewership for female sports. With this increase in attention comes higher crowd attendance and publicity, which could ultimately lead to increased revenue and salaries.

Whilst change is in the making, there is still a long way to go before men and women are equal in professional sport

Reciprocity - NATO leaders should take a more pragmatic approach to the level of expansion that will be acceptable to countries not in the US sphere of influence. The US would undoubtedly not tolerate having a Russian backed country on or near their borders because of the threat that this poses. Similarly, NATO expansion right up to the Russian border will be perceived as a threat by Moscow so rather than making Europe safer, it will inevitably raise tensions.