Deliberation Guide – Pink Tax
Price Disparities Among Gender Targeted Products
Overview
The “Pink Tax” essentially describes the overall price disparities among gender-targeted products. Products marketed towards females are often higher priced than the counterpart items marketed towards males. Furthermore, there is a physical tax placed on feminine hygiene products in 48 states which adds to the overall figurative “Pink Tax” experienced by women.
Approach 1: How can gendered marketing contribute to neutral pricing?
Values: fairness
One reason for price disparities among genders is uneven marketing. Through equal spending targeting different genders, companies will be able to charge the same price, as opposed to charging more due to increased spending in marketing.
Option: companies can spend the same amount of money advertising to different genders. Or a company could create neutral advertisements/packaging, eliminating gender marketing.
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Consistency through standardized taxes and prices | Supply and demand issues play a role |
| Fairness – this is an unfair tax | Traditional style of marketing, could be hard to change |
| Product quality will be equal in comparison to its price. | Products targeted towards different genders are often intentionally sought after |
Approach 2: How can physical tax regulations on certain products minimize the overall phenomenon of the “pink tax”
Values: equality
Feminine products such as tampons and pads are taxed in 48 states. Some people (mainly women) consider these products to be necessities.
Options: Necessities such as milk are untaxed so we can similarly officially consider feminine hygiene products as necessities and eliminate the tax placed on feminine hygiene products. If the tax cannot be completely eliminated it can be lowered to promote fairness and equality.
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Feminine products become necessities instead of luxury items. | The government collects less money through taxes. |
| Helps low-income individuals afford needed products. | Venders may raise the price since customers will be able to afford it. |
| Increase awareness of the female reproductive system. | Changing/passing legislation is a complicated/long process. |
Approach 3: How can decreased focus on hyper femininity and toxic masiculinity solve gender based discrimination?
Values: Tradition
Many ads targeted towards gender-specific audiences include the hyper-feminine and toxic masculine gestures and stereotypical implications through their imaging and slogans.
Options: As many commercials and marketing draw in the consumer, by focusing on the removal of hyper-femininity and toxic masculinity we can leave room for equality along with eliminating historical diminishing gender roles.
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
| Products are less targeted and leave room for gender expression. | Kickback from the public. |
| Less Sexism | Conservative views. |
| Lets neutral products appeal to all genders. | These aren’t always made apparent |
| Companies save money through eliminated targeted advertisements and products. | Feminine and masculine products are deeply rooted in marketplaces. |