blog five

Though this issue is not the most significant controversy, it is one that affects women every day due to our gender. It is called the Pink Tax, and it refers to the extra amount women are getting charged for specific merchandises or services. It started with the "Shrink it and Pink it" marketing tool companies have been using for decades that takes the basic version they make for everyone but advertise it towards women making it smaller and of course pink. The crazy thing is women have been getting targeted with this marketing tool when they are born and till they die. Diapers, car seats, deodorant, and canes are just a few examples that get a heavy "tax" just because of the color pink and being sold for women. Moving on to services women get charged higher rates for mortgages, auto repairs, haircuts, even dry cleaners cost more. Women pay more than men 42% of the time and not to mention we get paid less than men, so this phenomenon unquestionably does not add up. But for those that say buy the man's version, I do not think we should give in that easy; women should fight for our right and not let our gender define us. Recent conscious brands have been putting out gender-neutral razors and other necessities to help start the movement. It is an excellent start but in my opinion, since I am a girly girl I wish the colorful, moisture strip, with five blades, and fruity scents razors were the same price as men and not so expensive. We spend thousands a year just because of the "disadvantage" of being a woman. Tampons and pads are charged sales tax because they are considered “luxury” items and it makes no sense to me. We are born this way and being a woman is not a luxury or something you can tax for the fun of it. Buying tampons is a first world problem but for third world countries, women have a lack of access to menstrual products, and I cannot even imagine that.  The things that women and men can do to fight this tax is to speak up and question the companies! #Axthepinktax gives an option to put in your birthday to see how much the pink tax has cost you and being 21 years old it cost me $28,465 in my lifetime. Jackie Speier congresswoman has been fighting this tax for 20 years and started the Pink Tax Repeal Act to get the federal government to take care of this matter.