proposal for research paper

Professor Light

English 200

11 November 2015

Research Paper Proposal

The topic that I wish to propose for my research paper has to do with the large discrepancy between recognition for women’s soccer compared to recognition for men’s soccer in America. Men’s sports have always been dominant compared to women’s sports in America. Men’s soccer is arguably the most popular sport in the world, but when it comes to America, men’s soccer is easily overshadowed by other popular sports such as football and basketball. The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) gains increased support around America when the World Cup occurs. Women’s soccer may be a special exception to the male dominance of sports because of their success in the world soccer picture. The United States Women’s National Team is the current champions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and has received floods of support from America. In fact, the women’s national team brought in record numbers for television when they participated and were victorious in the World Cup Final. With that being said, women are recognized and paid far less than male players.

The argument that I plan to set forth in my research paper is that women soccer players deserve to have equal recognition and equal wages to male soccer players because they are equally as capable of receiving monumental amounts of support in today’s game and media. Notable soccer stars for the women’s national team such as Alex Morgan, Shannon Boxx, and Julie Johnston are currently fighting towards equality in wages for women in the MLS (Major League Soccer). Women are making an impact on today’s game which is newly recognized through the popular soccer video game FIFA 16. FIFA 16 has boldly included women in the game which is a groundbreaking occurrence. This is the first time that women have been included in the FIFA franchise and is the only time women have been included in a large-scale sports video game as playable teams. Clearly, this groundbreaking move by FIFA is providing evidence that women are making impacts on a global scale in soccer.

A counter-argument that women should not be recognized or paid as much as men in soccer is that men earn all of the money for television and advertisements because they are a part of a more popular world game. Although men are part of a bigger world picture, women in the U.S. are just as popular. Their success in the World Cup has caused them to be nationally recognized as heroes in America. In fact, the women’s national team arguably is more recognizable in the U.S.’s current society.

Two sources that I am going to use in my paper involve two unscholarly sources. The sources are from online articles on the Huffington Post and Forbes.com. Both sources include important facts about men’s soccer compared to women’s soccer and the discrepancy in their wages. Alex Morgan, Shannon Boxx, and Julie Johnston are highlighted in the Forbes.com article regarding their opinions on the matter. Senator Patrick Leahy is highlighted in the Huffington Post article because of his attempt to call on FIFA to pay female players the same as male players. The suggestion was shot down, but the article shows how equal pay and recognition for women soccer players is a current issue in today’s society that is not being ignored. High profile individuals such as Senator Patrick Leahy are paying attention to what is currently taking place in unfair wages. These sources provide a perspective on the matter in pop culture that is very prevalent. The sources prove that there are steps being taken to make the necessary changes to how female soccer players are perceived.