Sexism? Japan flies women’s soccer team economy class, men business

Japan seems to have a blatantly sexist attitude toward the travel accommodations for some of its athletes.

According to the Telegraph, Japan had its women’s soccer team fly economy class from Tokyo to Paris this week while the men’s soccer team has flown business class to the Olympics since the 1996 Summer Games.

Some of the women are peeved at the difference.

“I guess it should have been the other way around,” Homare Sawa (pictured) told reporters after arriving in Paris on Monday.

“Even just in terms of age, we are senior,” the 33-year-old captain of the women’s team said.

The BBC reports that the Japan Football Association has been funding the upgraded flights for the men. The men reportedly receive the special treatment because they are considered professionals while the women are considered semi-pro.

The women’s team was upgraded to “premium economy” because they won the World Cup last year, but it’s still not the same as the men flying business.

Most Japanese athletes fly economy class unless they are upgraded because of large size or other exceptions. The women’s team had its return flight to Japan upgraded to business class last year after they won the World Cup, so they’re figuring the only way they can get equal treatment is by having an excellent showing at the Olympics. But that shouldn’t have to be the case.

Are the men’s medals at the Olympics more valuable than the women’s? Or are all medals worth the same? Last time I checked they were valued equally, so the treatment of the teams and athletes should be the same.