As a woman, you probably know that the products marketed toward women tend to cost more than their male counterparts. You may not, however, realize that this phenomenon has a name: Pink Tax. If you’re wondering what it means and why it happens, read on!
What is the Pink Tax?
The Pink Tax is the extra money women pay for products that are similar to those men use, but cost more. It’s often referred to as the “gender tax,” or the “pink premium.” The term was coined in 2015 by Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, an American lawyer and activist who noticed that many women’s products were priced higher than their male counterparts.
You may have heard about how much more expensive tampons are than regular toilet paper–or even why it costs more for women to buy razors (the answer: because they come with shaving cream). While these examples might be extreme, they still illustrate how this issue affects a lot of people on a daily basis — especially when you add up all of your purchases over a lifetime!
The main reason this happens? Because companies think they can charge more money without losing sales if they market their products as being made specifically for women (even though some studies show otherwise). And even though there isn’t really any difference between what products are made just for men versus those made just for women in terms of quality or effectiveness–and sometimes even price point!
Examples of the Pink Tax
The Pink Tax is everywhere. It’s in the products we use every day, like shampoo and deodorant. It’s even present in something as simple as shaving cream, where women pay more than men to cover themselves in foam.
The best way to understand how much more you’re paying for these items is by looking at the price difference between similar products aimed at different genders:
- Women’s deodorant costs approximately $1 more than men’s deodorant on average (according to Consumer Reports). This means that if you buy a pack of four sticks every month, you will spend an extra $120 over ten years compared with if you had bought the male version instead!
How to Avoid the Pink Tax
- Shop for the same products in different colors. If you’re looking for a specific product and it comes in pink, but not blue or black, then you should be able to find it at a lower price than if you were shopping for that same item in its only available color (i.e., pink).
- Shop for different products altogether–not just ones that aren’t gendered! When stores charge more because of their gendered pricing practices, they’re making assumptions about what kinds of things men and women need or want–when really we all have the same needs and wants regardless of our gender identity (or lack thereof). So if there’s anything else on your list besides what they’re offering at an inflated cost because it comes in “girly” packaging or packaging that has flowery designs on them (because flowers are just so feminine), look elsewhere! You’ll probably find something similar at another store with lower prices too!
You can avoid paying extra for products that are marketed toward women.
You can avoid paying extra for products that are marketed toward women.
- Look for products that are marketed toward men. If a brand has a product intended for men, chances are it will be cheaper than if you were to buy it as a woman.
- Look for unisex products. These tend to have no gender-based pricing and can save you money while still getting the same product! Some examples include shampoo/conditioner sets and deodorant sticks (instead of sticks).
- Look at children’s toys and clothing when shopping–they’re often cheaper than adult versions because they’re marketed towards kids with less disposable income than adults do (and thusly parents don’t want them spending too much either). The same goes with elderly people’s clothing–great deals abound in these sections! Just make sure not all your clothes look like “grandma” clothes because nobody wants that either…
Conclusion
We hope this article has helped you understand the pink tax and how to avoid it. There are many products that are marketed toward women, but don’t cost more than similar products marketed toward men. You can find these items by doing some research or just looking around your local store. If you’re still unsure about whether or not something is priced higher because of its gender-specific marketing, ask someone who works there! They might have insight into why an item costs more than its male counterpart would cost at another store or online retailer