Four-blade razor prices for women were 66% higher than those for males. There are no differences in characteristics like lubricating strips, rotating heads, or other unique characteristics. Women are constantly faced with challenges, whether it be gender biases, unfair pay, or the Pink tax. Pink tax refers to the extra cost that comes with buying certain products that are advertised towards women but are also sold to men for a cheaper cost. 

These products and services include haircuts, razors, and similar items which can cost up to $5 for women [1]. The differences between these items and similar male-oriented ones are typically paltry. For instance, according to investment firm JPMorgan Chase, several estimates place the annual cost of the pink tax on women at $1,300. The term Pink tax first appeared in a study by the California Assembly Office of Research in the 1990s, when they found that 64% of retailers in various large cities charged more to wash and dry-clean a woman's blouse than a man's button-up shirt [2].

Researchers and policymakers who study the Pink tax also look at the expenses associated with items that women must purchase but men do not, such as tampons. Recognizing the burden that taxes on tampons and other feminine hygiene goods inflict on women, particularly those with lower incomes, advocates have long fought to reduce or remove these taxes. Numerous countries like Australia, Canada, India, and Rwanda have eliminated taxes on tampons and other feminine items. Tampons and sanitary pads are now subject to a 10% goods and services tax (GST) since they are classified as luxury products. Women claim this labeling is unjust, pointing out that things like condoms and sunscreen are excluded from this tax. On Wednesday, 2018, the federal and state governments in Australia reached an agreement to end the tax. After similar campaigns, India eliminated its 12% tax on sanitary items in July. Although protestors have asked for its removal, the UK still charges a 5% tax on sanitary products [3].

A number of attempts to pass legislations to abolish the Pink tax have been made since the issue attracted media attention. In a 2015 study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), researchers found that up to 35 item categories like soap, deodorant, lotion, clothing, and dry-cleaning are used to overcharge women. In the DCA’s dataset, they revealed that men's items were more expensive 18% of the time, while women's products were more expensive 42% of the time. The only state in the U.S. to outlaw the Pink tax is New York State. Former governor Andrew Cuomo approved a bill to ban the Pink tax in April 2020, and it became effective on September 30, 2020. This makes some service providers required to submit price lists for typical services and are also informed that state law forbids gender-based pricing discrimination. Businesses may receive civil fines if they break the law. In California, an employer can receive up to a $14,270 civil penalty for committing any violations. Though it depends on what rule an employer violates it can go from a $1,000 fine up to $25,000 [4].

A more recently talked about problem is the Pink tax on women's time. There is a worldwide epidemic of women who lack the time to carry out the daily tasks that men take for granted. Losses of time are frequently disregarded, despite the fact that they can be just as detrimental to women's well-being. People need to broaden the concept of the Pink tax to consider time as another essential resource in order to create a more gender-equal future. Women experience time, even free time, more stressful than men do. This is because women feel more guilty about having free time. They feel the pressure of having to be busy or productive as they can feel judged by others for how they use their time [5]. In order to fix this problem, women need to take risks by going against any judgment they may face to push through the Pink tax.

Businesses around the world have displayed the blatant gender discrimination through the Pink tax. Women encounter challenges all the time, including gender prejudices, unequal pay, and the Pink tax on their time. Women must take chances and defy any criticism they may receive to stop the Pink tax in order to resolve this issue of not only taking their time but also pricing on everyday objects that are used by women.

Cites:

[1] - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8484976/

[2] - thebalancemoney.com/what-is-the-pink-tax-5202741

[3] - bbc.com/news/world-australia-45727980

[4] - dir.ca.gov/title8/336.html

[5] - hbs.edu/ris/Publication%20Files/The%20Secret%20Tax%20on%20Women's%20Time_b28f20b8-e95e-41bc-995f-d51a9a60e814.pdf