It is Expensive to Be a Woman

Across the globe, there are states which hike up the prices of women’s necessities more than men’s. Women’s necessities appear to be more expensive compared to the opposite gender. In some cases, there are products which have the same components and only differ in color, yet the price varies according to the gender of the individual who will be using it. Have you ever wondered why? This is due to the Pink Tax, otherwise known as gender-based pricing. It is an additional pricing on products made for women’s use. It may seem fictitious to most people, but it really exists and is supported by the Pink Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 5686) of the 114th Congress. This phenomenon has been documented in Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and other countries affected by the legislation.

The High Cost of Being a Woman

According to an article in Forbes written by Tim Worstall, a British economist who majors in Economics and Finance at the Adam Smith Institute in London, this controversial upcharge in women’s necessities has been studied by the New York Times. They found that pink disposable razors really cost more than blue disposable razors. This also holds true for other hygiene and dental necessities in markets located in different areas of France (Worstall, 2016). This problem also exists outside of France. Consumer Reports in America discovered that drugstores increased the cost for commodities used by females. For instance, Excedrin Complete Menstrual, which is used by women, is worth 50 cents more than Excedrin Extra Strength, which is used by men, despite the fact that both have similar measured constituents (Consumer Reports, 2016). According to researchers at the University of Central Florida, females are charged more for their products compared to men (UCF Research, 2015).

The Underlying Causes of the Pink Tax

What is the real reason behind the appeal of the pink tax? The legislation is due to tariffs, commodity discrimination, and differentiation. Some taxes are worth more for women’s products, while others cost more for the opposite sex. Privilege discounts may be considered a case in point of price discrimination since establishments only allow these discounts to a specified group of people. Commodity differentiation is also considered a reason for this gender-based pricing according to Worstall. Even if an object has the same components, it still differs at some point, whether in color, name, or branding, and women would still choose to buy the more expensive products simply because they think that it’s not entirely the same, although it basically has the same function. Former President Obama also shared his experience with the so-called pink tax when he encountered a situation about dry cleaning, wherein his wife’s blouse cost more than his shirt (Obama, 2016). The worth of things differs in various objects such as toys, clothes, dry cleaning, and self-care products. Tampon tax, on the other hand, is not entirely the same as the pink tax but is quite related to it. Tampon tax is the added tariff for products used to manage feminine hygiene. These menstrual necessities are hiked with a tariff ranging from 3 to 7 ½ percent, and if you try to find the approximate amount for these things that you’ll be using in a lifetime, it would probably be a huge amount to pay. Activists see this legislation as something that invalidates “menstrual equity,” which disrupts the equal accessibility of women to feminine products that maintain hygiene (Smith, 2017). Although women’s salaries are just 80% of men’s salary, women’s needs appear to be worth more than the commodities of men, considering the fact that men can be expensive too.

What Can Be Done About the Pink Tax?

What can those individuals affected by the pink tax do about it? Basically, since it is an approved legislation and reforms and propagandist movements regarding this claim have been denied according to the jurisdiction of the 114th Congress, the pink tax is something that they would have to live with unless women consider buying from the men’s lane, since the only difference for some products is its physical appearance. They may also consider trying to love the color blue and make it their new favorite color instead of pink. Furthermore, increased consumer awareness and advocacy for change can play a pivotal role in addressing these disparities. By making informed choices and supporting businesses that practice fair pricing, consumers can drive the market towards greater gender equity.

References

Consumer Reports. (2016). Gender pricing: Women pay more for everyday items. Consumer Reports. Retrieved from https://www.consumerreports.org

Obama, B. (2016). The Costs of Being a Woman. New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com

Smith, J. (2017). Understanding the Tampon Tax: How it Affects Women Worldwide. Middle East Journal of Economics. Retrieved from https://www.mejournal.com

UCF Research. (2015). Gender-based pricing in consumer goods. University of Central Florida. Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/research

Worstall, T. (2016). The Pink Tax: How Women Are Charged More Than Men. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com