Rep. Jackie Speier (D-California) introduced legislation on April 10 that would hold companies accountable for overpricing goods and services specifically marketed toward women. This action of economic discrimination is otherwise known as the “Pink Tax.”
In December of 2015, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a study that found items marketed toward women, on average, cost 7 percent more than those marketed toward men. The researchers looked at hair products, laundry services, car dealers, apparel, toys, personal hygiene products, and more, finding higher prices for women’s goods simply because they were marketed toward women across the board.
Photo courtesy of Society19
So, not only are women paid an average of 20 percent less than men, but women pay more at the cash register, too.
Speier’s Pink Tax Repeal Act would allow the Federal Trade Commission to impose laws that would make it illegal for companies to participate in gender-based price discrimination. So far, roughly 30 representatives have supported Speier’s legislation proposal.
“Women get hit with a double whammy,” Speier said in a press statement. “They make less for doing the same work, and they pay more for the same product or service because it’s for women. Whether it’s a pink teddy bear, deodorant from the same manufacturer, or a white laundered shirt, it’s time to say enough! Discrimination is illegal.”
Gif courtesy of Odyssey
Moreover, women’s menstrual products, such as tampons, are also taxed. An issue that Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia has introduced into legislation, proposing that women’s sanitary products be added to the tax-exempt list. Meanwhile, condoms and Viagra go untaxed.
Women of color and plus-sized women are hit even harder by the Pink Tax. Since women of color already make less than white women, they have less to spend on higher-priced products, some of which are basic necessities, such as tampons or pads. Plus-sized women are also often charged more for clothing items by retail companies whereas their male counterparts are not.
According to the Center of American Women and Politics, women comprise 19.8 percent of Congress, 23 percent of the Senate and 19.1 percent of the House of Representatives. It’s up to the American female population to let our predominantly-male congress-members know that we want them to ax the Pink Tax.
Find out how to contact your state’s congressperson here.