“We at Volkswagen of America are disgusted by positions taken by U.S. Soccer.”
The U.S. Soccer Federation apologized after it contended in court documents that women on its national team had lesser responsibilities and physical abilities than their male counterparts and should be paid less than men. This blatantly sexist assertion drew widespread criticism and ignited a player protest the Associated Press reports.
USSF President Carlos Cordeiro’s weak and mild expression of regret on Wednesday night came after The Coca-Cola Co. lambasted the federation for supporting lesser pay for its female stars. Coca-Cola called the federation’s assertion in documents filed earlier this week “unacceptable and offensive.”
Click to Enlarge. From 2018 Census.
Court documents filed Monday in response to the players’ motion for a summary judgment, the USSF said the women claimed their ability level is the same as the men “by ignoring the materially higher level of speed and strength required to perform the job of an MNT player.”
These sorts of things don’t go better with Coca-Cola, so to speak.
“We have asked to meet with them immediately to express our concerns. The Coca-Cola Co. is firm in its commitment to gender equality, fairness and women’s empowerment in the United States and around the world and we expect the same from our partners,” Coca-Cola said in a statement.
Coca-Cola has been partner with the USSF, as well as a global sponsor of the World Cup since 1974. Other sponsors followed by protesting, including Budweiser.
Procter & Gamble supports the USSF through its Secret deodorant brand, last year it donated $529,000 to help close the gender pay gap: $23,000 for each of the 23 players on the U.S. World Cup roster.
Now Volkswagen is finally speaking up. In a statement issued today: “We at Volkswagen of America are disgusted by positions taken by U.S. Soccer and they are simply unacceptable. We place great emphasis on gender inclusivity (sic) and equality and require our partners do the same. We stand by the USWNT and the ideals they represent for the world. We demand that U.S. Soccer rise up to these values.”
Cordeiro also announced a shake-up of the USSF legal team.
NBC Sports reports that USWNT star Megan Rapinoe dismissed the apology immediately: “We don’t buy it…. That wasn’t for us. That was for fans, media, sponsors… Every negotiation we’ve had, those undertones are in there that we’re lesser. Every mediation session that we had, any time we meet with them and obviously the reason we filed this lawsuit. So, for him to put that out saying sorry, presuming it’s for us, we don’t buy it. That wasn’t for us at all, that was for everybody else.”
The USWNT warmed up for Wednesday’s match with their uniform tops inside out, hiding the federation badge, and took its Starting XI photo as an entire squad. Rapinoe scored the first goal in a 3 to 1 win against Japan. Not surprisingly the official USWNT website is ignoring the controversy and the apology and the lawsuit and the team protest photos. Maybe they should hire a female journalist who once played soccer, or a mom.
Here’s the protest lineup photo with jerseys inside out.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Volkswagen Condemns USWNT Exploitation of Women
“We at Volkswagen of America are disgusted by positions taken by U.S. Soccer.”
The U.S. Soccer Federation apologized after it contended in court documents that women on its national team had lesser responsibilities and physical abilities than their male counterparts and should be paid less than men. This blatantly sexist assertion drew widespread criticism and ignited a player protest the Associated Press reports.
USSF President Carlos Cordeiro’s weak and mild expression of regret on Wednesday night came after The Coca-Cola Co. lambasted the federation for supporting lesser pay for its female stars. Coca-Cola called the federation’s assertion in documents filed earlier this week “unacceptable and offensive.”
Click to Enlarge. From 2018 Census.
Court documents filed Monday in response to the players’ motion for a summary judgment, the USSF said the women claimed their ability level is the same as the men “by ignoring the materially higher level of speed and strength required to perform the job of an MNT player.”
These sorts of things don’t go better with Coca-Cola, so to speak.
“We have asked to meet with them immediately to express our concerns. The Coca-Cola Co. is firm in its commitment to gender equality, fairness and women’s empowerment in the United States and around the world and we expect the same from our partners,” Coca-Cola said in a statement.
Coca-Cola has been partner with the USSF, as well as a global sponsor of the World Cup since 1974. Other sponsors followed by protesting, including Budweiser.
Procter & Gamble supports the USSF through its Secret deodorant brand, last year it donated $529,000 to help close the gender pay gap: $23,000 for each of the 23 players on the U.S. World Cup roster.
Now Volkswagen is finally speaking up. In a statement issued today: “We at Volkswagen of America are disgusted by positions taken by U.S. Soccer and they are simply unacceptable. We place great emphasis on gender inclusivity (sic) and equality and require our partners do the same. We stand by the USWNT and the ideals they represent for the world. We demand that U.S. Soccer rise up to these values.”
Cordeiro also announced a shake-up of the USSF legal team.
NBC Sports reports that USWNT star Megan Rapinoe dismissed the apology immediately: “We don’t buy it…. That wasn’t for us. That was for fans, media, sponsors… Every negotiation we’ve had, those undertones are in there that we’re lesser. Every mediation session that we had, any time we meet with them and obviously the reason we filed this lawsuit. So, for him to put that out saying sorry, presuming it’s for us, we don’t buy it. That wasn’t for us at all, that was for everybody else.”
The USWNT warmed up for Wednesday’s match with their uniform tops inside out, hiding the federation badge, and took its Starting XI photo as an entire squad. Rapinoe scored the first goal in a 3 to 1 win against Japan. Not surprisingly the official USWNT website is ignoring the controversy and the apology and the lawsuit and the team protest photos. Maybe they should hire a female journalist who once played soccer, or a mom.
Here’s the protest lineup photo with jerseys inside out.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.