I won't post this to the Sports area because it's a rather political issue. The Governor of New York, the President of the United States, House representatives and Senators have all talked about it. It's political.
First of all, let me say this: I'm absolutely for equal pay for men and women who do the same job. Truly, the same job.
But in the case of sports, there is a hierarchy of leagues and quality, and it affects how people are compensated. It's not really a gender issue.
Think of it. Major League Baseball players get paid more than Triple A players. They both play the game of baseball, but obviously, the MLB stars are more valuable to the entertainment industry (given that they generate more revenue) than the Triple A guys, therefore they get compensated with higher salaries. These are all males.
If we took the equal job, equal pay to this situation, should the Triple A guys get the same salary as the MLB guys just because they play the same game of baseball?
No, it's not the same job. It's the same game, but the job is different. The MLB guys play against a much higher level of competition. They have to excel a lot more. They need to be much more talented.
Talent counts. Is a very talented and experienced medical doctor, with 3 decades of experience, the author of a textbook and 100 scientific papers, a full professor... paid the same as another medical doctor who is a recent graduate, a trainee resident, this unknown quantity who hasn't done anything at all, other than graduating? No. The more talented, more proven, more experienced doctor is paid a much higher salary than the inexperienced trainee. Well, is it the same job? Superficially, yes; they are both doctors. They both see patients and write prescriptions. They are both licensed by the Medical Board. However, it's a no-brainer that the more talented and more accomplished doctor is paid more, including because the job is not really the same; the more experienced doctor has more responsibilities. Also, the more experienced doctor generates a lot more income. He/she writes grants, gets original research to be sponsored, brings in millions of dollars to the organization, while the young resident brings nothing. So, yes, the older doctor makes more money. Normal.
Is this a gender issue? No. A female experienced doctor will make more than a male inexperienced doctor. The issue is one of talent, experience, and income generation for the employer. NOT gender.
So, let's think again of the US Women's National Soccer Team, and the US Men's National Soccer Team, and their pay differential.
The women have won the World Cup while the men have won nothing; recently lost to Mexico in the Gold Cup final (so, placed second).
However, the USWNT played against one of the under-15 boys team (13 and 14 year old boys) and lost 5-2. Think of it. High school boys, a regular team. They beat the top of the top women's team 5-2.
The USMNT faces much bigger competition. If they were to play against the USWNT they'd likely win by something like 20-0. If the women's team were to play in the Gold Cup, they'd be dead last (unlike the men's second place). If they played in the Men's FIFA World Cup, they'd be dead last. New Zealand would beat them 10-0.
The men's league, MLS, brings in at least ten times more money than the women's league. Probably more; I haven't looked at the numbers.
So, is it normal for the men to make more money? Sure, and IT'S NOT A GENDER ISSUE!!! It's merely an issue of talent, competition, and income generation.
When it's truly the same job, all parameters considered, sure, pay the same.
When it's not the same level of difficulty and quality and competition, then, no, equal pay doesn't apply.
Opinions?