PINK TAX: WELCOME TO MODERN DAY SEXISM

Even though it’s 2018, if you’re a woman you’ll get charged more for clothes, personal care products, medication, and services. Women end up paying over $1,300 per year for the same services as men (not to mention we earn about 20% less).

The Pink Tax is the extra cost added to clothes, personal care products and services that are marketed to women. I first heard of the pink tax on tampons and I was outraged! Then I learned it’s not only tampons, it’s many products marketed to women.

If you’re a woman this is what you’re paying more for:

+ Personal care products like shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, lotion, deodorant, body wash, etc.

+ Clothes

+ Girls toys and clothes

+ Dry cleaning

+ Tampons. Of course, men don’t use tampons but today 38 states (including Texas) tax tampons as a “nonessential good,” like if having to manage your period is a luxury. You know what’s not taxed in 45 states because it’s an essential good? Viagra.

Of course, we can’t just be outraged; we need to take action. Men, too!

Where you put your money matters. Money is something that we use to exchange value, and when we pay for something we are saying: I value this and I want more of it. This is why we should support organic and non-GMO foods, eco-friendly products and personal care products without harmful chemicals, for example. This is also why we should show companies that paying more just for being a woman is not okay, and we can show them where it hurts most: their pocket.

Here are some things we can do to fight the Pink Tax.

BUY GENDER-NEUTRAL BRANDS

There’s no need to buy gendered personal care products. I buy gender-neutral shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, and face products**. Besides, those fragrances that make you smell like flowers, coconut or vanilla are super toxic. I like products that smell wonderful from their natural ingredients, not from the toxic perfumes added to them. I also use a gender-neutral and aluminum-free deodorant by Nubian Heritage*.

If you have kids (especially girls) buy gender-neutral toys.

Buy gender-neutral medication.

BUY REUSABLE FEMININE CARE PRODUCTS

To avoid paying the tax on tampons you can buy the DivaCup* or Thinx*. I also like using Cora* tampons, because they pay the tampon tax so that consumers don’t have to.

SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT ARE AGAINST WOMEN PAYING MORE

As I mentioned, Cora* tampons pay the tampon tax so we don’t have to. Billie*--an affordable razor subscription company-- launched a campaign called #AxThePinkTax to advocate equal pricing for products.

POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN YOU SEE UNEQUAL PRICING

When you see two different prices for the same product and the only difference is that it’s marketed to women, say something (men, you too)! Post it on social media and use #pinktax. We need to speak up and call out companies that are doing this.

CLOTHES

Unfortunately, we can’t but gender-neutral clothes. But this is what I propose: buy more second-hand clothes, which can be fashionable and inexpensive. I personally love Uptown Cheapskate*, the clothes are impeccable, the prices are low, they carry great brands and will buy back clothes, too.

Resources

https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2017/jan/22/ashley-judd/are-pads-and-tampons-taxed-viagra-and-rogaine-not/

https://www.listenmoneymatters.com/the-pink-tax/

https://www.glamour.com/story/pink-tax-revolution

*I am NOT affiliated with these brands, I'm recommending them because I believe in their product, quality, and message.

**I'm proudly affiliated with USANA because I believe in their product, quality, and message.