Football star Megan Rapinoe has demanded equal pay in men and women's work.
Rapinoe, who represents the United States Women's National Soccer Team, gave a powerful speech at the White House during an Equal Pay Day event held by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
In her moving address, the World Cup-winner touched on the gender pay gap while also highlighting the continued discrimination women are faced with during day-to-day life.
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"I've been devalued, I've been disrespected and dismissed because I am a woman. I've been told that I don't deserve any more than less because I am a woman," Rapinoe said.
"Despite all the wins, I'm still paid less than men who do the same job that I do. For each trophy, of which there are many, and for each win, for each tie and for each time that we play, it's less.
"I know there are millions of people who are marginalised by gender in the world, and experience the same thing in their jobs. And I know there are people who experience even more, where the layers of discrimination continue to stack against them. And I and my teammates are here for them. We on the women's national team today are here because of them."
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Throughout her decorated career, Rapinoe has continued to use her platform to combat gender and racial equalities.
And prior to her White House speech, the 35-year-old also testified at the Oversight Committee's Equal Pay Day hearing.
"What we've learned, and what we continue to learn, is there's no level of status and there's no accomplishment or power that will protect you from the clutches of inequality," Rapinoe said.
"One cannot simply outperform inequality or be excellent enough to escape discrimination of any kind."
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"The United States Women's National Team has won four World Cup championships and four Olympic gold medals on behalf of our country. We have filled stadiums, broken viewing records and sold out jerseys - all of the popular metrics by which we are judged. Yet despite all of this, we are still paid less than our male counterparts. For each trophy, for each win, for each tie, for each time we play... less.
"And if that can happen to us, to me, with the brightest lights shining on us at all times, it can and it does happen to every person who is marginalised by gender.
"You want stadiums filled? We filled them. You want role models for your kids, for your boys and your girls, and your little trans kids? We have that. You want us to be respectful? You want us to perform on the world stage? You want us to take the stars and stripes across the entire globe and represent America in the best way possible?
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"We've done all of that. And simply, there's no reason why we're underpaid, with the exception of gender."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Football News, Football, Australia, Megan Rapinoe
