Gender Inequality

By: Abraham Cruz-Hernandez

While reading The Atlantic we can see that Neymar and Marta are the top soccer players of Brazil and it highlights the gender inequalities of these top soccer players. It highlights the way they both are portrayed differently

Neymar is portrayed as a global icon in modern day soccer. He is surrounded by sponsorships, main media attention, and immersive financial gains. He represents modern day Brazilian soccer culture and benefits from being a male and being amplified to the main soccer stage. Meanwhile Marta who is a well known soccer player is being undermined despite being very decorated with her awards. Marta has has to navigate through a system that undermines women’s sports.

The comparison between the two shows how the system is set to support different genders by the way they do institutional support, media coverage, and audience investment. Brazil takes pride in their nationality they uprise Neymar and praise him for his success. All while Marta is downplayed and not given the same attention as the most successful Brazilian female soccer player.

We can see the inequalities by the most viewed final World Cup matches between the two genders.

• Men’s FIFA World Cup Final Match
  • 2022 Qatar (Argentina Vs France)
    • 1.5 billion
• Women’s FIFA World Cup Final Match
  • 2019 France (US Vs Netherlands)
    • 263.6 million

We can see the difference between the two most successful soccer players and how it is because of their genders. It leaves you wondering why soccer in women’s sports is overlooked and the need to show them the same respect and value as we do with men’s soccer.