The Pink Tax


What Is It?

The Pink tax refers to the increased pricing of feminine products compared to similar masculine products. According to Psychology of Women and Gender, "on average, girls and women spend $1,400 more each year than men when buying the same products..." (p.32). Daily hygienic products such as razors, shampoo, conditioner, and toothbrushes, are marked up because of their feminine appearance. These costs quickly add up alongside menstrual products like pads and tampons that can cost about $120 per year (ISSA). This outrage has transpired into a movement demanding the end to the discriminatory practice. California and New York are the only states that have outlawed gender-based pricing. This is a necessary step to gender equality alongside eliminating the wage gap. It is astounding that women are paid less but expected to buy a necessary product at an increased rate because it’s pink. As a woman, I experience this daily. The price of my razors are more just because of their color, my brothers’ shampoo and conditioner is $5.00 less, even the lotion I buy costs more. It’s easy to say “just buy the masculine products.” However, women’s razors tend to have larger heads that are rounded. These are for those who decide to shave their pubic area, underarms, and legs. Men’s razors have a smaller head used to shave their face. These differences may constitute a small price gap. Yet, women’s four blade razors cost on average 66% higher than men’s (NIH). Even more so, a Venus ComfortGlide razor is marked up $2.00 compared to a male razor that includes two separate heads.

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Abolish the Pink Tax


“Having the same financial power and leveraging it will allow us to take more leadership positions globally and change policy to aid in creating equity around the world.”

– Janine Rogan