The Pink Tax: What You Need to Know About the Tax Targeting Women

Have you ever noticed that products such as women’s razors are more expensive than men’s razors? Or that menstrual products are taxed as a luxury?

These are only two of the thousands of examples of the pink tax at work. According to Kelley Gosk, the outreach and events chair of Elon EFFECT, “The pink tax is vastly unknown and misunderstood, which is why talking about it will create a bigger conversation on the topic of equality.”

“Elon Feminists for Equality Change and Transformation (EFFECT) is an organization that is devoted to awareness and activism around feminist issues,” Gosk says. In order for Elon to become more feminist-friendly, “it’s important for Elon students, faculty and staff to continue the discussion surrounding the pink tax and become more educated with how sexism is interwoven in society.”

Gosk says many people don’t recognize the existence of the pink tax because of how “marketers have been able to train society’s brains to think pink products are only meant for women.” By creating this distinction between products, businesses are able to upcharge pink products and take advantage of the female industry.

However, the pink tax is not only damaging to women’s wallets.

“The pink tax is furthering the norm that women’s packaging is associated with pink and sparkly packaging while men’s is associated with dark colors and what society deems as ‘masculine’ packaging,” says Gosk. “These norms are damaging to our progression as a society because it further separates men and women and neglects non-binary or trans individuals.”

So, what can you do to avoid falling victim to the pink tax?

As this article has established, the difference in marketing toward women and men is simply grounded in the societal perception of the product. These products aren’t marketed toward a specific gender because of research, so there’s no requirement for you to buy the products that are aimed at your gender identity. Base your purchases off of the products you want not the products you think you need to buy.

To learn more about the pink tax, please see this article by Vox.