Japan's Soccer Women Fly Business, Like Men

[Karl_micasa]

japan's soccer women fly business, like men (lower).wma

Japan's Soccer Women Fly Business, Like Men (lower).hwp

Japan's Soccer Women Fly Business, Like Men 초중급

The Japanese women's football team flew business class on its way home from the London Olympics. This was very different from how the team went to the U.K. Even though they are the soccer world champions, Japan's football association bought them economy class tickets. Meanwhile, the men's team flew business class, even though they had never come close to winning a major football tournament. The upgrade happened only because the Japanese ladies won the Olympics silver medal. The men flew home empty-handed but they still flew business class. The Japanese Football Association said this was because the men were "professionals".

Members of the women's team have complained they have been treated unfairly and unequally. Japan's star player Homare Sawa told Japanese reporters that the only time her team had been given business class seats was last year, after they won the World Cup. Ms Sawa was confused about why she and her world champion team had to fly economy class on the 12-hour flight to London while the men's team enjoyed the luxury of business. "It should have been the other way around. Even just in terms of age, we are senior," she joked. Regardless, it is the Japan Football Association's decision to decide who gets business class.

<QUESTIONS>

1. Do you think the women have been treated unfairly and unequally?

2. Are men and women treated equally in Korean society? Should they?

3. Have you ever experienced any kind of sexism?

4. Do you care about women's sports as much as men's sports?

5. Have you ever flown business class?