Did anyone see tonight's Panorama about gender pay gap? There was a bit about BBC paying John McEnroe more for Wimbledon than Martina Navratilova. I'm all for equality, whether it be gender or ethnic or age etc, but Martina's case seemed a bit poor really considering - according to the BBC - McEnroe was contracted to do more, more commentary, more appearances, more commitments. If they both had the same contractual commitments and she got paid less, then yes I can see why that seems unfair.
However, I think the gender pay gap argument misses one crucial point.....what the individual brings in terms of experience, skills, and in broadcasting their celebrity appeal and viewer engagement. Even in sport, say football, there is a reason why Messi earns more than other strikers. They play the same game, on the same pitch, the same 90mins, in the same role. But Messi is Messi. And if I had taken over from Mary Berry on BakeOff years ago, why should I - a nobody - command the same pay as Mary Berry?
Of course - sadly - there is discrimination in the world. Gender, ethnic etc. And we should try to address this. But some of this gender pay gap stuff seems miscalculated.
However, I think the gender pay gap argument misses one crucial point.....what the individual brings in terms of experience, skills, and in broadcasting their celebrity appeal and viewer engagement. Even in sport, say football, there is a reason why Messi earns more than other strikers. They play the same game, on the same pitch, the same 90mins, in the same role. But Messi is Messi. And if I had taken over from Mary Berry on BakeOff years ago, why should I - a nobody - command the same pay as Mary Berry?
Of course - sadly - there is discrimination in the world. Gender, ethnic etc. And we should try to address this. But some of this gender pay gap stuff seems miscalculated.