Women's U.S. Soccer team settles gender discrimination suit for $24 million

Women's U.S. Soccer team settles gender¹ discrimination suit for $24 million

Transcript²

NPR's A Martinez speaks with Rachel Bachman of The Wall Street Journal about U.S. Soccer's equal pay settlement.

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

Members of the U.S. women's team have reached a $24 million settlement with the U.S. Soccer Federation³. This comes after the players sued their employer for gender discrimination. Rachel Bachman is senior sports reporter for The Wall Street Journal. Rachel, so what are the details of this new agreement?

RACHEL BACHMAN: Well, the agreement is essentially⁴ a pledge to equalize pay for the women going forward. The - as you mentioned, the settlement is for $24 million, which the players see as a big win for their side since the federation had earlier denied that it had given the women unequal pay.

MARTINEZ: Now U.S. Soccer is going to pay men and women an equal rate going forward, including for the World Cup. Can you remind us how we got here, the whole pay issue and how this unfolded?

BACHMAN: Yes. Well, three years ago, members of the U.S. women's soccer team sued the federation, alleging⁵ gender discrimination and not only in pay but also in working conditions. Now, the women settled that portion of the case earlier. The pay portion of the case went on for quite a long time after that. But they - you know, in this really landmark⁶ agreement, they have, you know, reached an accord with U.S. Soccer to award them back pay for several years of, as they alleged⁷, unequal pay.

MARTINEZ: Yeah, and they sued right before the 2019 World Cup, so their timing⁸ on this was intentional⁹. And they also got a lot of support along the way. President Biden, if I'm not mistaken, Rachel, supported the women on this issue.

BACHMAN: Yes, he did. And they certainly got a lot of support from their fans, which is quite a powerful constituency. At the World Cup final in 2019 in France, the sold-out stadium chanted equal pay, and many fans across the country took up that chant at friendly games and other settings where the U.S. team appeared.

MARTINEZ: Now, in their lawsuit¹⁰ against U.S. Soccer, how did U.S. Soccer come across as they were arguing their side, that it had nothing to do with discrimination?

BACHMAN: Well, I would say they - the federation gained a lot of enemies along the way and really upset a lot of the women and some men who follow the team. One case in particular - there was a court filing a while back a lot of people viewed as sexist. It characterized the women as carrying less responsibility than the U.S. men's soccer team in carrying out their jobs. That argument was later pulled from the record, and the federation actually hired a new law firm to handle the lawsuit going forward.

MARTINEZ: Did U.S. Soccer, Rachel, say that women players were less skilled than men?

BACHMAN: That was the allegation in the court filing, yes. I think later the federation realized that that was a mistake, and in fact, the former president resigned in the wake of that filing.

MARTINEZ: Now, the U.S. has won the last two Women's World Cups. If they can continue that success next year in Australia under this new pay structure - I mean, how might their earnings¹¹, their earnings' future compare to the men?

BACHMAN: Well, it's important to note that this agreement is contingent¹² on the women signing a new collective bargaining agreement. But since U.S. Soccer has pledged that, going forward, it will offer an equal rate of pay for the U.S. men and U.S. women, then if the women continue to outperform the men, they should be paid more.

MARTINEZ: Rachel Bachman of The Wall Street Journal, thank you very much.

BACHMAN: Thank you, A.

1 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

6 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

7 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 intentional   

adj.故意的，有意（识）的

参考例句：

• Let me assure you that it was not intentional.我向你保证那不是故意的。
• His insult was intentional.他的侮辱是有意的。

10 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

11 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

12 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。