BlueCollarIT

Parity in Pay

This has been a hot topic issue for a long time. It started in the seventies with Billie Jean King and has continued through last year with Venus Williams threatening to boycott Wimbledon rather than defend her title if the women didn't receive equal pay. A good argument against this is that the men have to win seven 5 set matches in 2 weeks while the women still play three set matches like every other tournament only woth a day to rest in between. From that viewpoint, the men play 35% more tennis on average in a grand slam tournament and should be compensated accordingly. On the other hand, and I think this hand holds all the cards, prize money is based on advertising dollars, sponserships, and viewership. We in America tend to forget that more than almost any other sport, tennis is a GLOBAL sport. The women do generate as much viewership and have at least as much sponsership as the men, especially in the Euro markets. The attendence at the actual events don't generate near as much income as tv and sponsers. Then, of course, gender equality is politically incorrect when it isn't recognized. I am an avid tennis player and watcher and I would rather watch almost any men's match than any women's match(no dissing of Henin whose success against bigger, stronger women is a testament to her mental fortitude and talent). My wife, also an avid tennis player(ranked #10 in KY her senior year of high school) will watch any women's match and only select men's matches. Each to their own. But this does probably reflect demographics that affect advertising. Women 25-49 are a coveted group to reach for advertisers and women's tennis does that. Of course, 120 years ago when tennis first started being played competitively, women were considered the fairer sex and unable to withstand the rigors of 5 set matches as they weren't really athletes. The year end Championship for women used to be  best of  5, nut that was changed in the early 90's. Given the amount of training that women do and that I do consider them athletes, I would like the to play the same 5 set format as men at the Majors. Either way, I am in favor of equal prize money.