What is the Pink Tax and How Can You Dodge It?
Hey there ladies! Did you know that oftentimes we’re paying extra for everyday items just because they’re marketed towards women? This extra charge, often called the ‘pink tax’, can make saving money quite a challenge. However, according to Couponbox’s research, a similar issue – the ‘blue tax’ – impacts men too. It seems marketers are making us pay more simply because of how products are packaged or because they’ve convinced us that gender-specific products, like razors, are necessary. Shockingly, while men are affected by this in more product categories, women face steeper rates. For instance, we pay 317% more on average for moisturizer, likely because companies know most women buy it. Truly, it feels ridiculous.
Even the iconic Ellen DeGeneres has humorously addressed the ‘pink tax’ on her show. A case in point is Bic’s ‘for her’ pens, which are priced double the normal pens simply because of their pink and purple color. She rejected their offer to be their spokesperson, and instead, humorously criticized the idea of pens designed “for a woman’s hand”. She quipped, “So when we’re taking down dictation from our bosses, we’ll feel comfortable and forget we’re not getting paid as much?” Her jokes highlight an important occurrence – many brands default to men’s products and charge women more for essentially the same thing!
But the issue goes beyond colored pens. Some products, like tampons, are just unavoidable for us. Many states still label feminine hygiene products as ‘luxury items’ and impose so-called ‘tampon tax’, which is simply absurd! Thankfully, several states in the USA are taking steps to address this unfair tax practice. There’s a growing global push to change this too.
So, how can we avoid paying extra for certain items just for being women? One key is to be savvy against marketing tricks. Remember, a product’s color doesn’t affect its effectiveness. Therefore, if a men’s razor is cheaper than a women’s razor (only because it’s pink), ask yourself: does the color of the razor change how it shaves your legs? No, right? So, shop smart, don’t let them take your hard-earned money just because their products are appealing. You might be a feminist, you might not be, but you’re definitely smart enough to not fall for this!
Here’s a task for all of us, spread the word! Let’s spread the awareness and encourage each other to make smart choices.