{"id":6832,"date":"2022-05-13T14:32:27","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T13:32:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/2022\/05\/13\/womens-football-still-faces-pay-gap-despite-growing-coverage-and-popularity\/"},"modified":"2022-05-13T14:32:27","modified_gmt":"2022-05-13T13:32:27","slug":"womens-football-still-faces-pay-gap-despite-growing-coverage-and-popularity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/womens-football-still-faces-pay-gap-despite-growing-coverage-and-popularity\/","title":{"rendered":"Women’s football still faces pay gap despite growing coverage and popularity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seventy thousand football fanatics travel to their beloved team stadiums for every game and 40% of the UK population are glued to their TV\u2019s watching the captivating action of the men\u2019s Premier League football.<\/p>\n

However, the same rules and the same game receives just a fraction of the coverage and support even though, the only difference is the gender of the 22 players on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Inequality is still consistent in the sport industry, specifically on the football field. From a young age, girls are faced with a long list of reasons to drop out of sport, from low self-esteem to feeling unsafe.<\/p>\n

A study <\/a>from Women in Sport found that 61% of girls feel judged while playing sport and over a third do not feel safe exercising outdoors.<\/p>\n

The Women\u2019s Sport Foundation discovered that high school girls are given 1.3m fewer opportunities to play sport than boys which leads to almost 40% of teen girls actively not participating in sport.<\/p>\n

This results in a lack of role models and career possibilities for female athletes. A study <\/a>from the Adelphi University, in New York revealed the common reality that men earn significantly more by playing the same sport.<\/p>\n

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Graph shows the pay discrepancy between men and women’s games<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On top of this, 17% of sporting competitions still do not offer equal prize winnings for male and female teams.<\/p>\n

In football, the average prize money gap between men and women competitions exceeds \u00a321.5m, according to Insure4Sport.<\/p>\n

Inequality in football dates back to 1921 when the FA banned women\u2019s football in their stadiums to defend the men\u2019s professional football spotlight and media coverage.<\/p>\n

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Timeline showing a history of women’s football<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The establishment of Mancunian Unity Women\u2019s Football Club<\/a> began after founder Phil Burke witnessed the inequal opportunities for women in the industry.<\/p>\n

“It started from someone I used to watch play at a different club. She got made to feel like she shouldn\u2019t be playing football anymore, she basically wanted to stop playing,\u201d said Phil.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just said, ‘you\u2019re not quitting football, let\u2019s start our own and do it in the image we want to have it in and create our own philosophy and identity in what we believe is right and to push the women\u2019s game forward as well’.\u201d<\/p>\n

Unity was established in 2019 with the goal to \u201cshow unity in women\u2019s football\u201d.<\/p>\n

They have successfully offered equal opportunities for girls and women in the football world and have accomplished plenty in their first full season.<\/p>\n

Phil proudly added: “We\u2019ve got two more cup finals as well so, we\u2019re hoping to go the season unbeaten and I\u2019ll say it again that\u2019s because the women deserve it, because of the work they put in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Manchester Laces training session<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Phil and his coaching team want to encourage people to become women\u2019s football fans like them because in their words, \u201cit\u2019s infectious\u201d and \u201cit is a different game, but in my opinion it\u2019s so much better\u201d.<\/p>\n

MUWFC are also in partnership with the Her Game Too<\/a>, an organisation which raises awareness of sexism in football.<\/p>\n

Dan Taylor, coach at MUWFC, has a close relationship with the campaign group and \u201chad discussions to boost the campaign right from the very start and it is taking off\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cI hope they carry on making it a big of a success as they are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her Game Too, founded in 2021, is committed to creating a philosophy in football where women are welcomed and respected equally.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more and more people that can get involved in women\u2019s football the better,\u201d stated Phil.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have four male coaches and every single one of them are in love with the women\u2019s game because once you actually get into it you realise what it has to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n