Only sexism and racism can explain why Serena Williams doesn’t earn more

[Wildtree]

http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-li...rand-slams-win

Serena Williams chatted with Robin Roberts on "Good Morning America" prior to setting out on her quest to win the Grand Slam at the US Open. The world No. 1 looked back at her first win in New York in 1999, talked about not feeling the pressure this year at Flushing Meadows, and even took on her body shamers.

Watch for no other reason than this absolutely incredible quote on her body image that everyone should print out and post on a wall to look at every day for inspiration: "It's me, and I love me. I've learned to love me. I've been like this my whole life and I embrace me. I love how I look. I am a full woman and I'm strong, and I'm powerful, and I'm beautiful at the same time."

While she clearly pays the bullies no mind, she perhaps threw the ultimate shade by putting the negative comments in perspective. "I don't have time to be brought down, I've got too many things to do. I have Grand Slams to win, I have people to inspire, and that's what I'm here for."

[Machismo]

I don't think either sister have that unlikable athlete persona though that Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens, and Vontaze Burfcit have.

At worst, they're the Dex Bryants of tennis.

Serena Williams is very much disliked, by athletes and fans alike. Her shitty attitude and screaming matches at random people have solidified that for her.

[Wildtree]

The problem with the Williams sister have always been their crazy ass dad/manager. He has a terrible reputation in Tennis and the white elites punish his daughter for it.
~~~
The Williams on the other hand are about as ghetto as you get.

Indeed some truth to that.
Yet, all things considered. The girls dad needs praise for his accomplishment.
Not many people might be aware how he managed to shield them from what went on around them.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/compton...201223323.html

I think that deserves credit.

[Feahnor]

No, it’s not the truth – and no, the numbers don’t prove it.

All they prove is your complete inability to understand biological and physiological differences between men and women, and how that relates to athletic performance. I could try and explain how a female athlete running a distance in a slower time than a male could still be the superior athlete, but it’d go over your head.

“lol”

People don't care about relative performances. They care about absolutes, and having absolutes in mind is obvious that men do better. It's just what it is.

[Flutterguy]

She plays tennis. She's not in a sport that's exploding with revenue. Furthermore, she's not in a sport that's particularly popular for her demographic. Female athletes by and large are still niche. This doesn't translate into money bags from endorsements and such.

Even with all these disadvantages, she's still pulling in $14mil from endorsements. Not exactly oppressed.

[Total Crica]

barking up the wrong tree here, op

have to convince ppl to give their money to ugly ppl if you want ugly ppl to get paid as much as pretty ppl

the marketers would then market ugly ppl as much as the pretty ppl

[nocturnus]

Serena Williams is very much disliked, by athletes and fans alike. Her shitty attitude and screaming matches at random people have solidified that for her.

That's what happens when you abuse hormonal treatment to become "a woman".

Seriously though, she really looks like a man >,<

[glycerethe]

Why are males and females separated in tennis and other sports? Let them compete against each other and see if she's really that good.
Name 1 sport where women outperform men. In other words, women in sports are boring to watch because they don't break any true world records. They compete with each other but don't get close to male performance.

I think men will do pretty bad on Balance Beam.

[Deleted]

That's what happens when you abuse hormonal treatment to become "a woman".

Seriously though, she really looks like a man >,<

Many women that practice sports on a high level seem to have (or develop?) manly features.
And maybe it's also because some women are already like that, that explains their succes in sports on a high level.

[Deleted]

Many women that practice sports on a high level seem to have (or develop?) manly features.
And maybe it's also because some women are already like that, that explains their succes in sports on a high level.

Well big muscles is a male trait, more muscles also alter the hormone balance, in short, this is mostly true.

[Kraenen]

Racism? No, she's just ugly and looks like a man.

Lol. Says it's not racism and then compares to a white girl

[Mormolyce]

Racism? No, she's just ugly and looks like a man.

You think she looks like a man because your tastes are racist.

Also, proving the point that sexism is the reason.

She plays tennis. She's not in a sport that's exploding with revenue.

Only she not only earns a quarter of what the leading male tennis player makes, she even earns less than Maria Sharapova.

[Haloswin]

I mean if we're going to say Sharapova gets more money as an athlete than Williams because she's more attractive how is that not sexist?

sex·ism
ˈsekˌsizəm/Submit
noun
prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.


Where in the definition of sexism is being less attractive a factor? More importantly, why do people want to pretend that being attractive isn't a boon for marketing reasons?

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Yes, it makes perfect sense to me why an attractive woman is getting more money than the far more competitive but less attractive woman. That doesn't mean its admirable, fair, or desirable.

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By all means, show some kind of argument.

The marketing aspect of it has nothing to do with the skill aspect. Its not like Serena wins the Open and makes less than a prettier female tennis player.. She less appealing and or marketable so she gets paid less in that arena...

It's not a difficult concept.

BTW -- Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan sort of ruin the while racism argument... This is basically about attractiveness.. Right or wrong, people don't find her to be attractive.

[Twoflower]

Advertisement revenue is directly linked to how popular an athlete is AND how popular a sport is.

Ever watched womens tennis? it's boring, like most womens sports. The main audience for sports are men. Most men are not interested in womans tennis, nor in womans soccer, nor in womans ice skating.

So yeah, the whole society and the whole system and the free market, it's all sexist... Sure...

Btw, did she ever explain why women play for 2 sets but men play for 3? Or why that men usually spend around twice as much time on the court during a tournament as women? That surely is sexist too. Where is your thread about that?

[Haloswin]

I'm a little baffled on how I have to explain that pay scales based on sexiness when your physical attractiveness has no bearing on your job is sexist.

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.

And yet you are baffled? She's not making less for her tennis, shes making less than prettier women in marketing. You need to separate the two

[Vyxn]

http://qz.com/490859/only-sexism-and...-endorsements/










Interesting piece and you can definitely tell that race is a big factor.

prize winnings to athletes are determined by ratings television ratings how much money does those athletes bring in by those that watch them
so if less watch women play tennis then men it is the sports consumers fault
athletes get endorsements from companies if those companies determine if that athletes image and brand attached to the product will sell the product
now here in America tennis isn't very popular not as much as in other countries
Maria Sharapova is very hot and from Russia so m sure endorsements come from Russia and other eastern European countries markets so why would those companies choose someone that doesn't represent their people their culture to represent one of their products?
and it isn't about race we have Black Men athletes get paid as much or more as whites and pick up multimillion dollar endorsements playing many American sports from Golf with Tiger Woods to Basketball with Michael Jordan

just another example of a SJW hyperventilating trying to find racism and sexism in everything they perceive as unfair. look people everything is not about race. everything is not about gender. there are so many underlying reasons why one individual gets treated different then another individual because guess what we all are individuals we are different in one way or another and we should judge every one as an individual, and some times that doesn't always favor the individual, but that is how it goes if you want every one judged as one

[Kurioxan]

If anything its due to demand... most people dont watch womens sports.
Also its an on-demand salary kind of thing, there is no "tennis player" salary, its all based on demand/fame/performance. Her performance is good, but her demand/fame really is not, thus lower pay (lol, still a ton of cash, ill take it if she doesnt want it).

You can see this in many fields, calling "hurr racism" is... reductionist, and honestly the constant modern witch hunt for racism is getting tiresome as fuck.
Check for example models, if you want an image of the reverse, or porn stars, or prostitutes.
Males earn far, far less than their female counterparts.
Is it sexism? nope, its demand.

[Haloswin]

That's funny because the female side of tennis has been dominating the male side of tennis for half a decade now (viewers).

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Probably for the same reason that women's volleyball has an audience and men's doesn't. I've seen a lot of women's collegiate V-ball on ESPN, can't recall a single men's match. This despite the action being significantly better in the men's game. Wonder if men age 18-36, the main demographic companies market to would rather look at bouncy females than males..

[Ultramonkey]

...or maybe because the female tennis stars only play to the best of three sets in grand-slam tournaments while the males play best of five.

Why should females get paid the same or more for less?

[Deleted]

You think she looks like a man because your tastes are racist.

No? - this does not follow.

Also, proving the point that sexism is the reason.

What sexism?

Only she not only earns a quarter of what the leading male tennis player makes,

Because she cant sell shit like a man can - (women control the majority of the 'spending' money - most of them are not lesbian - make of that what you will)

she even earns less than Maria Sharapova.

Once again, Because she cant sell shit - Men don't give a shit about female sports - you are effectively just saying that the model Maria sells more shit than the model Serena.

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Probably for the same reason that women's volleyball has an audience and men's doesn't. I've seen a lot of women's collegiate V-ball on ESPN, can't recall a single men's match. This despite the action being significantly better in the men's game. Wonder if men age 18-36, the main demographic companies market to would rather look at bouncy females than males..

Yeah, where is the outrage about men's volleyball players!