U.S. women’s national team star, Megan
Rapinoe has hit out at the U.S. Soccer
federation, accusing the federation of fighting
against the team’s pursuit of equality during
remarks made before a congressional
committee on Wednesday, March 24.
The footballer, a two-time World Cup winner,
has been at the forefront of her team’s
gender discrimination lawsuit against U.S.
Soccer and on Wednesday appeared before
the House Oversight Committee for a hearing
designed “to examine the economic harm
caused by longstanding gender inequalities,
particularly for women of color,”
In Rapinoe’s prepared opening statement she
said: “It’s my honor to be in front of you
today. It’s probably no surprise, but equal pay
and equality in general is a deep and
personal passion of mine.
“What we’ve learned and what we continue
to learn is that there is no level of status,
accomplishments, or power that will protect
you from the clutches of inequity. One cannot
simply outperform inequality or be excellent
enough to escape discrimination of any kind.
“I am here today because I know firsthand
that this is true. We are so often told in this
country that if you just work hard and
continue to achieve – you will be rewarded
fairly. It’s the promise of the American
dream. But that promise has not been for
everyone.
“The Women’s National Team has won four
World Cup championships and four Olympic
gold medals on behalf of this great country.
We have filled stadiums, broken viewing
records, we’ve sold out jerseys, all the
popular metrics by which we are judged.
“Yet despite all of this, we are still paid less
than our male counterparts – for each trophy,
of which there are many, for each win, each
tie, each time we play. Less.
“In fact, instead of lobbying with the women’s
team in our efforts for equal pay and equality
in general, the U.S. Soccer Federation has
continually lobbied against our efforts and the
efforts of millions of people marginalized by
gender in the United States.
“And if that can happen to us, to me, with the
brightest lights shining on us at all times – it
can, and it does, happen to every person who
is marginalized by gender. But we don’t have
to wait. We don’t have to continue to be
patient for decades on end. We can change
that today, we can change that right now. We
just have to want to.”
“So as always, LFG. Thank you.”
She fielded questions from members of the
U.S. House of Representatives, addressing
issues related to equal pay and transgender
rights.
Last year the US Womens team sued US
Soccer Federation over it’s unequal pay
compared to the Men’s team and unfair
working conditions.
In December, the USWNT and U.S. Soccer
reached a settlement over one portion of the
team’s lawsuit, involving unequal working
conditions.
As part of the settlement, U.S. Soccer agreed
to revise policies over charter flights, venue
selection, professional support, and hotel
accommodations.