Men vs Women Gymnastics cashing in

[postitagain2]

I read an article online today about how the USA men's gymnastics guys talk about how the women are getting huge endorsement opportunities (i.e. Big Bucks) and they aren't even getting phone calls. And it's been going on for years not just this year,s teams.

First they acknowledge the women are bringing home gold medals and they are not. They understand they have to start winning to expect financial opportunities. But they also say Title IX has contributed to the imbalance.

For the men, the age of the team members is usually in their mid 20s. The feeder system is for college teams and there are now only 15 D1 programs. There are like 66 women's programs and the USA feeder system for the women is usually private clubs and the women are usually younger.

You also see some of the same imbalance for men's-women's indoor volleyball. 300+ college programs. About a dozen men's at the college level.

I wish everyone the opportunity to make a living playing the sport they love via a pro career or via endorsements. But my underlying opinion after reading this article was to say , "Welcome to the world of being a girl." Females might have the advantage in these two sports right now, but men have the advantage in the vast majority of sports and in most they hold huge financial advantages. Tennis is becoming pretty balanced because some of the former male pros had daughters and went to bat for the women to balance out the money earned.

Sitting here today I can't imagine women pro basketball ever coming even close to the men. And other sports as well. But it's nice to see some opportunities for girls that are on par or better than the men

[treesandwaves]

Although I understand the sentiment, I don't think it's fair to the feminist movement to settle for "well women are doing better here! Taste our pain!" These male gym athletes aren't gaining any of the benefits of being a male athlete in much the same vain that female basketball players aren't getting the benefits of being a female Volleyballer or gymnast. Title IX should be revamped, as it is fairly outdated, and we should settle for equal financial opportunity amongst all aspects of sport and life in general. Male gymnasts won't ever make equal money until they start winning, but the opportunities aren't as abundant.

[postitagain2]

Aug 11, 2016 12:33:29 GMT -5 treesandwaves said:

Although I understand the sentiment, I don't think it's fair to the feminist movement to settle for "well women are doing better here! Taste our pain!" These male gym athletes aren't gaining any of the benefits of being a male athlete in much the same vain that female basketball players aren't getting the benefits of being a female Volleyballer or gymnast. Title IX should be revamped, as it is fairly outdated, and we should settle for equal financial opportunity amongst all aspects of sport and life in general. Male gymnasts won't ever make equal money until they start winning, but the opportunities aren't as abundant.

I agree it would be nice in the United States for opportunities in sports to be equal. And I agree Title IX should be revamped. Will that perfect world ever happen in my lifetime? I doubt it. It's just a little sad steps forward have probably resulted in setbacks for others. I wish as a society we could be better than that.

[vbcoltrane]

Beyond the massive difference in accomplishment, I also think male gymnasts in the USA will always have reduced endorsement opportunities due to perceptions about sports and gender.

Gymnastics is seen by many as a "first tier" female sport - the general public celebrates our little pixies in their leotards, face glitter, and bows.  Yes, they're tremendous athletes, but they're tremendous athletes in a sport that many consider "female", much like figure skating. Thus,  it's a first tier women's sport in terms of marketing/endorsements.

On the other hand, small men performing gymnastics will never (well maybe not never, who knows) be celebrated the same way.  Gymnastics isn't a first tier men's sport to the general public and, thus not for marketing/endorsements, not even close.  Even if they had as many gold medals, I doubt the men would get as many endorsements.   There are a ton of other male athletes in other sports to throw endorsement money at.   And, unlike golfers, who can get some endorsement money because there are a mass of people who play the game, there's hardly anyone who does recreational gymnastics.  That isn't to say that there couldn't be a male gymnast who transcends the sport - wins a ton of gold medals, has a media-ready personality - and cashes in because of it.  But, until we get that athlete, we can't see if any of that would come to fruition.

Think of it this way.  If a company had 1 million dollars to give to either a female gold medal gymnast or a WNBA title winner and MVP, the company might very well pick the gymnast.   That would never happen with a male gymnast and an NBA player.

I'm not saying any of this is right, but I think the male gymnasts are ignoring some realities.  Not everyone with a gold medal and/or Olympic participant status is going to automatically have the same endorsement potential. 

[treesandwaves]

Totally agree on all that - it just won't happen. My point was more that there are systems in place on both side that hamper even the opportunity for it to.

[akbar]

Are you sure those girls are taking those offers? Are most of them going to college.....like many of the fab 5 who are at UCLA.

Maybe that money is deferred?

[mikegarrison]

Aug 11, 2016 12:33:29 GMT -5 treesandwaves said:

Although I understand the sentiment, I don't think it's fair to the feminist movement to settle for "well women are doing better here! Taste our pain!" These male gym athletes aren't gaining any of the benefits of being a male athlete in much the same vain that female basketball players aren't getting the benefits of being a female Volleyballer or gymnast. Title IX should be revamped, as it is fairly outdated, and we should settle for equal financial opportunity amongst all aspects of sport and life in general. Male gymnasts won't ever make equal money until they start winning, but the opportunities aren't as abundant.

That's the same sort of ridiculous thinking that says Bill Gates Jr. (son of a wealthy lawyer, educated in expensive private schools, given access to computers before most people had ever heard of them, with a family safety net to fall back on in case his business didn't work out) had the same equality of opportunity as a poor kid growing up in the projects would have had. "Equality of opportunity" is a buzzword phrase used to justify that the haves should continue to be the haves, and the have nots should continue to be the have nots.

Title IX is working exactly as it is supposed to work, and doing a great job.

[BuckysHeat]

Meanwhile swimmers, most soccer players in the US and track and field see little to nothing.

inequality.org/gender-pay-gap-athletes/
The (womens) team was awarded $2 million for their first place finish (Olympics). While this amount is significant, it pales in comparison to what the USA men’s team received last year after losing in round sixteen (World cup): $9 million (2012)

www.futurity.org/few-female-athletes-get-endorsement-deals/ (2012)

And:
On the Forbes list of highest-paid athletes for 2015, (Serena) Williams was ranked 47th, with $11.6 million in tennis earnings and $13 million in endorsements. (Maria) Sharapova, who is questionably considered a rival of hers, only made $6 million from playing this year, but gets $23 million in endorsements. They were the only women to make the list, which includes a wide range of sports

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2016 12:00:23 GMT -5 postitagain2 said:

I read an article online today about how the USA men's gymnastics guys talk about how the women are getting huge endorsement opportunities (i.e. Big Bucks) and they aren't even getting phone calls. And it's been going on for years not just this year,s teams.

First they acknowledge the women are bringing home gold medals and they are not. They understand they have to start winning to expect financial opportunities. But they also say Title IX has contributed to the imbalance.

For the men, the age of the team members is usually in their mid 20s. The feeder system is for college teams and there are now only 15 D1 programs. There are like 66 women's programs and the USA feeder system for the women is usually private clubs and the women are usually younger.

You also see some of the same imbalance for men's-women's indoor volleyball. 300+ college programs. About a dozen men's at the college level.

I wish everyone the opportunity to make a living playing the sport they love via a pro career or via endorsements. But my underlying opinion after reading this article was to say , "Welcome to the world of being a girl." Females might have the advantage in these two sports right now, but men have the advantage in the vast majority of sports and in most they hold huge financial advantages. Tennis is becoming pretty balanced because some of the former male pros had daughters and went to bat for the women to balance out the money earned.

Sitting here today I can't imagine women pro basketball ever coming even close to the men. And other sports as well. But it's nice to see some opportunities for girls that are on par or better than the men

Wasn't the same thing happening in figure skating? I recall reading something a while back about how they found a way to get the men more compensation.