This week, we’re diving into something that is completely absurd in my opinion, the Pink Tax. The Pink Tax has been named as such due to the color of products that are directly marketed towards females, referring to the price difference in comparison to products marketed towards men and boys. According to the Ax the Pink Tax website, women spend, on average, $1351 more than men for products that are relatively the same products.
This article, From Cradle to Cane: The Cost of Being a Female Consumer highlights the differences in pricing between products based on whether the target consumer is male or female. The researchers who conducted this study found that the Pink Tax effects women from the time they are children, as girls’ toys cost more than boys’ 55% of the time, and clothing that is typically marketed for young girls cost more than clothing marketed for boys 26% of the time. Later in life, women’s clothing costs more than that of men 40% of the time, and their personal care products cost more 56% of the time. Finally, once reaching the age of needing home care, for women, these services cost more 45% of the time! In my eyes, it is completely absurd that something as necessary as home health care has such a large disparity in cost for men and women.
It has often been argued that women’s products cost more than those created for men because women are more “high maintenance,” which may be the case for some women, but in terms of something as simple as a pink razor in comparison to one that is blue, a price difference in completely insane. According to the study mentioned previously, there is an 11% difference in 
the prices of razors for men and women, simply because of the way they are marketed. These products are almost identical, but since one has the phrase “for women” plastered on the front, it becomes more expensive. Also, in the United States, women pay more for literally being a woman, in the sense that there is a luxury tax put on tampons since they are deemed a “luxury item.” Despite this label, I think I can speak for most women in saying that there is absolutely nothing luxurious about the need for tampons at all. If that doesn’t strike you as outrageous, consider the fact that while this tax is placed on tampons, condoms are not subject to the luxury tax.
In order to tackle the Pink Tax, many companies have started cutting down the prices on women’s products in order to match the prices that men are paying for the same products. Both the United Kingdom and the United States have had their share of price cuts in order to try and lessen the extra costs women are paying in comparison to men. In the United States, Boxed is a website that was created to ensure that men and women spend the same amount of money on products such as body wash, deodorant, and razors, and has even cut the luxury tax on tampons. This website has the 
slogan “It’s Time to #RethinkPink” and stands by their belief that prices should be equal for genders if they are buying equal products. You can shop for countless products on their website, all free of Pink Tax.
As I mentioned before, the Pink Tax effects women from the time they are born, until they are older and in need of at home care. In a price breakdown of senior home health care products, women are paying, on average, 8% more than men. For supports and braces that are needed for function and comfort, women are paying almost five dollars, and 15% more than men. Once women are in need of a cane to help them walk, they have to be willing to spend 12% more than their male counterpart for a product that is basically the same.
So, if the Pink Tax is so grueling, why do women still buy products that are marketed for them rather than buying equal male products? To put it simply, most women want to feel like a woman. I know that may sound completely absurd in your head, but I know that for myself personally, I have no intention of walking around all day smelling like “swagger” or “steel courage,” when I could smell like roses or a sweet Georgia peach. Also, some of these products are necessities, which is why women keep buying them. Tampons, for example, are something that most women need, which is why this tax is so daunting, since there is really no way to get around spending the extra money.
While you may or may not be directly affected by the Pink Tax, I’d like to think that we can all agree that the extra cost of being a female is a little irrational.
Photo Credit: Google Images
I knew how ludicrous the luxury tax applied to tampons is, but I was completely unaware of the extra cost in other products. Why would canes, something nearly everyone needs as they get older, ever need to be 12% more expensive for women? That makes no sense whatsoever. I think this is an important topic to mention, and I’m very glad to see companies like Boxed are trying to take this on.
While I have never have heard of the Pink Tax, I think it is outrageous. It’s crazy to think how companies are allowed to mark up prices towards products geared toward money, especially when the differences are sometimes so miniscule like color. Knowing that it affects me personally also makes it frustrating. I hope that the U.S. continues to address this issue.