Aparna Popat talks about gender pay disparity in sports, says women qualify for equal pay as men
Popat says that Indian women have also given a good account of themselves in non-Olympic sports.
By Rohan Abraham, ET Bureau |
Over the course of the last decade, women have gone on to shatter the glass ceiling, but they still continue to be paid lower than their high-achieving male counterparts, be it the boardroom or the sports field.
The fight for equal pay got a fillip with the Megan Rapinoe and the United States Women’s National Team filing a lawsuit demanding wage parity with the men’s team. The trial in the gender discrimination lawsuit is set for May 5.
However, when it comes to the remuneration of sportspeople in India, the jury is still divided. When asked whether women have an equal playing field as men, veteran badminton player and former Olympian Aparna Popat did not mince words.
“If you look at the performance of female athletes at the highest level, I think Indian women have done very well in the recent past. I will stick my neck out and say that the performance of women athletes has surpassed that of the men,” she said on the sidelines of The Economic Times Panache roundtable on sport.
India’s medal tally at the Olympics stands at 13 since the 2000 Games in Sydney. Five of these were won by women. Popat added that Indian women have also given a good account of themselves in non-Olympic sports like cricket, and should hence qualify for equal pay as their male colleagues.
“I think the financial situation is good, as of now. It’s very important to see how much of the money trickles down to the grassroots, and then we should try to find an equal playing field. I think that’s something we need to aspire to,” she added.
Popat reckons that women-centric sports films go a long way in encouraging young girls to take an interest, and participate competitively. “Chak De India, Bend It Like Beckham. I think all sports movies, they really touch a very emotional chord but I would say my favourite is Chak De,” Popat said.
The fight for equal pay got a fillip with the Megan Rapinoe and the United States Women’s National Team filing a lawsuit demanding wage parity with the men’s team. The trial in the gender discrimination lawsuit is set for May 5.
However, when it comes to the remuneration of sportspeople in India, the jury is still divided. When asked whether women have an equal playing field as men, veteran badminton player and former Olympian Aparna Popat did not mince words.
“If you look at the performance of female athletes at the highest level, I think Indian women have done very well in the recent past. I will stick my neck out and say that the performance of women athletes has surpassed that of the men,” she said on the sidelines of The Economic Times Panache roundtable on sport.
India’s medal tally at the Olympics stands at 13 since the 2000 Games in Sydney. Five of these were won by women. Popat added that Indian women have also given a good account of themselves in non-Olympic sports like cricket, and should hence qualify for equal pay as their male colleagues.
“I think the financial situation is good, as of now. It’s very important to see how much of the money trickles down to the grassroots, and then we should try to find an equal playing field. I think that’s something we need to aspire to,” she added.
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Popat reckons that women-centric sports films go a long way in encouraging young girls to take an interest, and participate competitively. “Chak De India, Bend It Like Beckham. I think all sports movies, they really touch a very emotional chord but I would say my favourite is Chak De,” Popat said.
In the second of a series of panel discussions, ET Panache took up a subject close to every Indian’s heart - improving the health of various sports in India. Five esteemed guests weighed in on the conversation. Snapshots from the second edition of ET Panache Dialogues.
When: Friday, September 13, 2019
Location courtesy: Taj Lands End, Mumbai
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