The Pink Tax

[Skidmore]

http://mic.com/articles/115922/the-secret-tax-screwing-women-out-of-thousands-of-dollars-over-a-lifetime


The Secret Tax Screwing Women Out of Thousands of Dollars Over a Lifetime

The pink tax refers to the extra money tacked onto products and services targeted at women. It's what makes Gillette charge almost a dollar more for women's shaving cream even though it's essentially the same product as men's. The worst part? The price gouging is almost inescapable, affecting everyday products like razors, shampoos and deodorant. In fact, a 2010 consumer report found that personal hygiene products can be up to 50% more expensive for women as they are for men. Often these products are the same brand and contain the same active ingredients. The only difference is their smell.

The tax extends to clothing, too: Women's plus-size items at stores like Old Navy are more expensive than standard items, but such a price distinction doesn't exist for men. Dry cleaning services also exhibit price discrimination, charging more for women's shirts than a men's shirts "even if they are smaller and made of the same cloth," according to the New York Times....more

[csziggy]

1. Much of the time I just buy the men's products

Partly because they are cheaper but also because they are less likely to have fragrances added - and they are NOT pink. Since I am very allergic to fragrances, that is essential and it is harder to find "women's" products that don't stink.

I used to buy men's shirts because for the money they were better made and held up better. I got in an argument with a dry cleaner's in the mid 1970s because they had a big sign with a sale on cleaning men's shirts but they charged me the price for women's shirts. Since my shirts were men's, I didn't get their logic that because I - a woman - wore them I should pay more than if a man wore the same shirts. To this day, I am reluctant to buy anything that needs dry cleaning or to use a dry cleaner because of my bad experience with that one decades ago!

[pansypoo53219]

5. i prefer the male scents. i do not see why i breed to buy GIRL stuff. found the cheap gillete razors

to be the best. i am so sick of GIRL zippers. i will not buy girl pants dammit!! since we get paid less, where is a chick discounts?

[csziggy]

6. I don't want any scents - even with medication to control my allergies

I'm so conditioned against fragrances, they turn me off.

When I was younger, men's jeans fit me better - women's pants STILL are baggy on my butt and hips. When I was riding every day, baggy jeans would wear sores in very inconvenient areas.

Another problem with "women's" clothes is that the styles and colors change every year. I like certain styles and certain colors and my tastes don't change. I HATE when I go to buy clothes and can't get the color shirt I want because it's out of fashion right now. Men's tee shirts don't change color choices every year! And I can find men's tee shirts for half the price of women's, made from a thicker, sturdier jersey.

[shenmue]

7. Me too

I buy men's sneakers, because they have a better selection of colors. Women's sneakers are often just white with stripes.

[Taitertots]

2. If the price matters so much just buy the "men's" product

Does the price difference exist because women are willing to pay more for products that are more desirable to them.

[Kip Humphrey]

3. So women get paid less and charged more... Where's the outrage?

[Skidmore]

4. Wish I knew.

Pisses me off. It's been oddly dismissed so far.

[shenmue]

8. I smell a federal lawsuit

This has got to be trade fraud of some sort.