The Wealth Gap (Episode 22)

In September of 2020 over 860,000 women left the workforce in the United States. This number on its own is staggering, and this week on the show Shaunna and Lisa are drawing connections to how the disproportionate toll of the pandemic on women might come to affect their participation in endurance sport in the coming months and years. They explore the nuance of what it means to be a woman who participates in “frivolous” activities like triathlon or cycling, the historical marginalization of women in sport and in the workplace, and how this has led to a gap in wealth and economic power between men and women. Despite endurance sport rarely being a mandatory activity for any gender, women seem to be judged more harshly if they participate in activities for their personal enjoyment and well-being, especially if they have children...and even more so if it has a price tag attached. This episode will analyze the connections among the socioeconomic status of women, antiquated gender norms, disproportionate household responsibilities for women and the emotional labor on women who are dedicated to an endurance sport lifestyle.