“Wimbledon Has Sent Me a Message: I’m Only a Second-Class Champion”

1. “Wimbledon Has Sent Me a Message: I’m Only a Second-Class Champion” By Venus Williams

2. Question #1: Which of the following lines from the text best captures William’s claim? HINT “The time has come for it [Wimbledon] to do the right thing by paying men and women the same sums of prize money.” A. “I’ve spent my life overcoming challenges and those who said certain things couldn’t be achieved for this or that reason.” B. “So the decision of the All England Lawn Tennis Club yet again to treat women as lesser players than men – undeserving of the same amount of prize money – has a particular sting.” C. D. “There is nothing like playing at Wimbledon; you can feel the footprints of the legends of the game – the men and women – that have graced those courts.” Not the best answer – While this is true, the focus of her editorial is not her overcoming of her own personal challenges, but rather the challenges of women as a whole. Correct! All of William’s arguments support her claim that women and men should receive equal prize money for winning Wimbledon. This line looks really good, BUT it is more of a detail than a claim because it is about William’s reaction to the unequal pay. Not a claim. This shows how much playing at Wimbledon means to Williams, but this is not the main idea of the whole text. HINT: Claim is another word for MAIN IDEA.

3. Question #2: Why does Williams open her editorial by asking readers, “Have you ever been let down by someone that you had long admired, respected and looked up to?” HINT A. She wants readers to be angered so that they will agree with her. She wants readers to sympathize with how betrayed she feels by the committee in charge of Wimbledon. B. C. She wants readers to feel that Wimbledon was disappointed by Williams’ performance. It is the opposite, actually. She is disappointed by Wimbledon’s lack of equal pay for men and women. Yes! Williams wants readers to think of a time when they felt let down so that they will know how upset she felt by the unequal pay and will sympathize with her argument. Not exactly – this question does not really result in anger on the part of the reader. HINT: Consider what this question makes you think of and how it makes you feel.

4. Question #3: All of the following lines support Williams’ call for equal pay EXCEPT … HINT “I’m disappointed not for myself but for all of my fellow women players who have struggled so hard to get here and who, just like the men, give their all on the courts.” A. B. “Wimbledon’s stance devalues the principle of meritocracy and diminishes the years of hard work that women…have put into become professional tennis players.” C. “The funny thing is that Wimbledon treats men and women the same in so many other respects.” “…because men play a best of five sets game they work harder for their prize money.” D. No – this directly states that women deserve equal pay because of their equal ability and devotion to the sport. Correct. Wimbledon’s defense is that men should receive more pay for winning because they play more sets of tennis than women do. HINT: Since the question says “except,” you are looking for a line that supports Wimbledon’s perspective that women should NOT be paid equally. This line directly supports William’s call for equal pay. She is arguing that women have worked just as hard as men to make it to Wimbledon. No – this proves that women should receive equal pay because Wimbledon view women as equals in so many other ways.

5. Question #4: Williams uses all of the following arguments to disprove Wimbledon’s claim that “women’s tennis is worth less” EXCEPT… HINT A. “Women players would be happy to play five sets matches…” B. “So in the eyes of the general public the men’s and women’s games have the same value.” “The top women – who are more likely also to play doubles matches than their male peers – earn more than the top men if you count singles, doubles and mixed doubles prize money.” C. “Let’s not forget that the US Open, for 33 years, and the Australian Open already award equal prize money.” D. Incorrect – This proves that women’s tennis is worth just as much as men’s because the spectators see them as equal. Incorrect – In Paragraph 12, Williams is responding to Wimbledon’s argument that their matches are shorter and therefore generate less money by arguing that women would be happy to play more. Correct! Wimbledon argues that women actually earn more than men because they play in multiple categories. HINT: Since the question says “except,” you are looking for a line that supports Wimbledon’s perspective that women should NOT be paid equally. Incorrect – Williams argues that the US and Australia already pay men and women equally and have done so for a long time.

6. Question #5: Williams writes, “the difference between men and women’s prize money in 2005 was … less than was spent on ice cream and strawberries in the first week…to pay equal prize money can’t be about cash. It can only be trying to make a social and political point.” What is Williams trying to prove through this statement? HINT The difference in prize money is so minimal that Wimbledon’s motivations for awarding unequal pay must be far greater than simply related to money. A. Wimbledon makes a great deal of money from food sales and therefore should pay women equally. B. C. The difference in prize money awarded to men and women is so minimal that it is not an issue. D. Wimbledon does not generate enough money and so they cannot afford to pay men and women equally. Looks good, but she is not referring to the food sales to show how much money Wimbledon generates. She is trying to show that it would not cost them much to pay men and women equally. Correct! Williams is using the food sales to demonstrate how much money Wimbledon generates. Therefore, she is stating that Wimbledon can afford to pay women equally. They don’t for reasons beyond money. HINT: Consider the point Williams is making by comparing the difference in pay to what is made through food sales. Nope – Williams’ argument is the opposite! The fact that the difference is so minimal is what makes it an issue! Incorrect – William’s point is that Wimbledon does generate a great deal of money and therefore CAN afford to pay men and women equally.

7. Women’s Earnings Compared to Men by Profession

8. The Result of Williams’ editorial… NY Times Audio: Wimbledon to Pay Women and Men Equal Prize Money • Click here for an update and info regarding why Wimbledon has changed its policy The Word: Equal Pay in Tennis Interview • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeMIZZqN5BY