Editorial

Secret Deodorant Donates $529,000 To U.S. Women’s National Team In Support Of Equal Pay

OPINION
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(Photo credit JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)

Lauryn Overhultz Columnist
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Secret, the deodorant company who sponsors the U.S. Women’s National Team, has joined the team’s fight for equal pay.

The deodorant brand will donate $529,000 to the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association, according to a report published Sunday by CNN Business. The total will be divided among each player, coming out to $23,000 per player.

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Equal Work. Equal Sweat. Equal Pay. As a brand for women run by women, Secret wholeheartedly believes women should not have to sweat being paid fairly. We have supported this history-making team all year long, and we are focused on driving advocacy and action for systemic change. Today, this change begins with us doing our part to help close the gender pay gap with a contribution of more than one-half million dollars – $529,000 to be exact – to the U.S. Women’s National Team Players Association. This figure is inspired by the strong women of the @uswnt and is the equivalent of $23,000 for each of the 23 players. As a partner of U.S. Soccer, we recognize this is a multi-layered issue, and we look forward to working with the USSF and the @uswntplayers to help recognize that equal work and equal sweat deserve equal pay for all. #WeSeeEqual #EqualPay #PayThem #USWNT #USWNTPA #DontSweatFairPay #ASNS

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“Let’s take this moment of celebration to propel women’s sports forward,” Secret wrote in the ad. “We urge the US Soccer Federation to be a beacon of strength and end gender pay inequality once and for all.”

Secret made the announcement in a full-page ad Sunday in the New York Times. The donation comes as a way to help the women’s team close the reported pay gap between the men and women’s teams. (RELATED: Alex Morgan Points To Double Standard After Receiving Criticism Over Goal Celebration Inspired By Sophie Turner)

Every single woman on the national team sued the United States Soccer Federation in a gender discrimination lawsuit back in March.

“What the USWNT players want more than anything is real, meaningful change,” executive director of the US Women’s National Team Players Association Becca Roux said.

This argument for equal pay has many different parts. Is the women’s team worth more money? Absolutely. Does the Women’s World Cup generate enough money to have a large enough purse to pay them what they should? No.

It’s not fair for the players to insist FIFA pay them more when they aren’t bringing in more.

However, Secret stepping up and donating money to these women is exactly what should be happening and I’m happy that it is. These women are talented and they should be demanding more money from their sponsors because they’re worth more.