While I very much agree with the sentiment put forth by JN on equal pay for athletes, I think the audience is as much to blame as professional sports associations. Here's my hypothesis: Wimbledon is shelling out equal pay because people are watching more or equal amounts of women's tennis as men's.
The sports junkies will argue that it's because women's games have more back and forth, making it more fun to watch. If you push, you might get a few men to admit to the draw of clingy, short skirts on female athletes--athletes turned models like Anna Kournikova, a Sports Illustrated cover girl (July 2000). But that's not really the point, is it?
I can name female athletes in tennis and figure skating, and track and field with some prompting, but paying these athletes will continue to reflect viewership. I have to admit I'm part of the problem here when I say that I can't name a professional female basketball player or a femme hockey player. Equal pay seems like a no-brainer, but who's watching?
While I very much agree with the sentiment put forth by JN on equal pay for athletes, I think the audience is as much to blame as professional sports associations. Here's my hypothesis: Wimbledon is shelling out equal pay because people are watching more or equal amounts of women's tennis as men's.
The sports junkies will argue that it's because women's games have more back and forth, making it more fun to watch. If you push, you might get a few men to admit to the draw of clingy, short skirts on female athletes--athletes turned models like Anna Kournikova, a Sports Illustrated cover girl (July 2000). But that's not really the point, is it?
I can name female athletes in tennis and figure skating, and track and field with some prompting, but paying these athletes will continue to reflect viewership. I have to admit I'm part of the problem here when I say that I can't name a professional female basketball player or a femme hockey player. Equal pay seems like a no-brainer, but who's watching?