More Movement Toward Equity

I’ve written here previously about how female athletes have been working extremely hard to get equitable prize money as their male counterparts. This past week women in another event achieved a more equitable share of the prizes.

Female skateboarders competing in the X-Games met with ESPN executives and were able to increase the total prize money for their event from $8,000 to a first prize of $15,000, a second prize of $10,000, and a third prize of $5,000. In addition they are hoping that female skateboarders helped to move ESPN toward increasing their on camera exposure during the X-Games broadcast.

These athletes are also hoping that by increasing the prize payouts more women will turn to these extreme sports for a living. The small amounts previously made when winning these events, plus the lack of sponsorship deals for female athletes, made competing quite prohibitive; it was not enough money to survive on.

Also, an increase in TV time for women in extreme sports will hopefully increase the overall buzz that they generate which will lead to more women getting on skateboards, surfboards, and snowboards.

Let’s hope that this leads to increased equity in extreme sports.