Shine OnTaking on the 'Pink Tax': How much does it really cost to be a woman?
If you were to visit the pharmacy and purchase what appeared to be two identical products of the same volume, for the same purpose and with the same active ingredients, would you expect the pink one to cost more?
That’s the reality for a lot of women, who say there’s a “pink tax” on the products they buy for personal grooming. And many are fighting it by switching the aisles they shop in.
“I buy men’s razors,” said Kimi from Ontario on Facebook. “I find that they are cheaper, and they last longer.”
Kimi is far from the only person to feel that way, too. Like many women, she’s looking for alternatives that see women paying more for everything from toiletries to haircuts to clothing.
Liz Plank at Mic.com recently posted a video challenge, telling product manufacturers to repeal gendered price disparities if they don't want women shopping in the men's aisle.
The debate about this kind of “tax” on femininity isn't new. The first study in the U.S. confirming the phenomenon was published twenty years ago, when California Assembly Member Jackie Speier sponsored Assembly Bill 1100 (1995), banning gender-based price discrimination. The Daily Share created a similar comparison video earlier this month, while in November of 2014, CBC Marketplace experimented with gendered pricing themselves and made some not-so-surprising discoveries.
This is not a problem confined to North America. French feminist collective Georgette Sand launched an online petition, currently listing more than 46,000 signatures, calling out the Monoprix supermarket chain for marking up the prices of women's goods.
Their recent attention has reignited a debate about whether the “pink tax” on women's products can be justified, and, if not, what to do about it.
The New York Times editorial department hints at a desire for legislative intervention, but ultimately suggests that women should do as Plank has done and just start “shopping in the men's aisle.” In a piece for Forbes, contributor Tim Worstall takes this same line of reasoning a step further: Let women choose between buying men's products or paying extra for pink. If women pay more for pink, this means, in his interpretation, that they must want it enough to bear the cost.
“We need both government-enacting legislation and consumer action,” Plank says. “We have laws that ensure that companies are held accountable on a whole host of issues and the pink tax should be one of them.”
“There is no reason women should be charged more for the same products and services,” she continues in an email exchange with Yahoo Canada. “I trust consumers to speak with their wallets but we need the government to take a stand against price discrimination too.”
Ways to fix the pink problem
Women who are frustrated with the “pink tax” do have options to try and remedy the situation:
1. You really can shop in the men's aisle.
There are valid reasons why many women aren’t interested in buying men’s products, particularly scented ones.
Some women have taken to Twitter, using the #pinktax hashtag to share their ideas for saving some money (and also sharing what they won’t compromise on):
When it comes to things like shaving products and dental hygiene, there are plenty of options in the more neutral men’s category that don’t smell like flowers or Old Spice.
2. Switch companies or make your own products.
They may not be widely represented in your local supermarket, but independent retailers like LUSH Cosmetics create many non-gendered products, in addition to a small line made specifically for men, which are priced just the same as the alternatives.
Brandi Halls, Director of Brand Communications for LUSH North America, confirmed in an email to Yahoo Canada.
“Our products are all unisex and truth be told, whether the product will be used by a man or a woman is not a consideration when pricing or inventing our products, nor do we think it should be," Halls said.
If you don’t have the luxury of buying from an independent retailer or a small producer at a local farmers’ market, you can try your hand at making your own lotions and creams.
3. Avoid non-essential grooming.
This might be asking a lot; the pressure for women to shave, pluck, wax and perfume can be overwhelming. But consider for a moment: What if shaving were as optional for women as it is for men?
Cutting down on your primping takes the price of grooming tools out of the equation altogether. This may not be an option for everyone, but hey, it’s always worth considering what non-essentials you can cut back on, right?
4. Demand change from your government.
A letter-writing campaign for another problem affecting women’s pocketbooks wrapped up this week; activist Jill Piebiak is seeking to have the GST removed from feminine hygiene products like pads, tampons and cups.
While that campaign is much further along, there’s room for Canadian women to petition their government for equitable treatment when it comes to buying gender-targeted products, too. In California, a state-led study resulted in a new law in 1996, which prohibited companies from charging different prices for men and women. New York City later followed suit.
There’s no law on the books yet in Canadian provinces for bridging the gender gap, but hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?
