The ‘pink tax' is a nickname given for an unofficial tax charge found on products that are meant for women even though they are very similar to male products or they might even be exactly the same. This is also known as gender-pricing or price discrimination, and it is a form of discrimination against women. Research has shown that women pay up to 34% more on clothing aimed at them, than men. Women can pay over 6% more for razors, just because they’re aimed at females. Men’s moisturiser is, on average, nearly 35% cheaper than women’s face creams. It is more expensive to buy kid’s clothes for girls than for boys. This price gap also affects healthcare essentials, as women can pay up to 30% more compared to their male counterparts. This phenomenon also affects certain services offered to the public for both men and women; dry-cleaners tend to charge more to dry-clean women’s clothes as opposed to men’s clothes. Not only do these costs add up, but women are also disadvantaged when it comes to salary, as other forms of discrimination like the gender pay gap exist. The government has taken strides to reduce the pink tax, and they did so by removing the 5% levy that was imposed on sanitary products. However, this has not gone far enough. Women make over 50% of the population in the United Kingdom. The prejudicial costs of everything puts women at a disadvantage over the course of their lives, as women are often the ones who are also expected to juggle childcare, and other domestic commitments. Furthermore, research shows that women had it worse during the pandemic, as many working-class women were placed on furlough, which meant they were earning less than they usually would. By contrast, there was no drop in the price of feminine products, which meant that a lot of women might have been struggling to access the essentials that they need. The pandemic was tough on everyone, but there was most likely a greater economic burden on women, which may have long lasting effects. In order to save alleviate the burden of the pink tax, there are a number of things that you can do. For example, you can:
SOURCES: https://www.riftrefunds.co.uk/blogs/pink-tax-today-how-much-extra-do-women-and-girls-pay-for-everyday-essentials/ https://www.redonline.co.uk/magazine/a36712967/pink-tax/ AUTHOR Oyinkansola Oyefeso I am an LLB Law (Hons) student at the University of Central Lancashire. I was born and raised in Nigeria. I love writing, I find it very therapeutic and FemLegal works well for me because i’m interested in gaining more knowledge about gender and the law outside of my university setting, with like minded and passionate individuals.
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