Gender Pay Gap in Sports: Lessons on Unequal Pay for the Women's National Soccer Team from the U.S. to Thailand
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Abstract
Professional women athletes have entered the U.S. professional sports in unprecedented numbers, nevertheless professional women athletes have entered the U.S. professional sports in unprecedented numbers, nevertheless professional men athletes generally earn more than professional women athletes. Professional women athletes are found to be paid less professional men athletes. Gender pay gap in the U.S. professional sports and some relevant concerns have been echoed at national level. Recently, the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) sued its employer, the U.S. Soccer Federation, for unequitable pay and unfair treatment. A case study of unequal payment between the men's team and the women's team are examined in this article. Wage discrimination under the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), a federal employment law that prohibits sex-based compensation discrimination and mandates equal pay for equal work, are also examined. The U.S. experience identifies certain lessons for Thailand as it is on the legal challenges in offering equal pay for equal work in sports industry that will in particular affect future soccer development in Thailand.
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