What Is the Tampon Tax?
“Unlike other products that are understood to be basic necessities, menstrual hygiene products are taxed by various governments worldwide. The tampon tax is the term used for this levy…These products are not subject to a unique or special tax but are classified as luxury items along with other goods that are not exempted…The tampon tax is often viewed as a part of the unofficial, and biased, "pink tax," which according to studies makes products costlier for those who menstruate.” Investopeia
The luxury tax ("pink tax") is a term that also refers to the higher prices that women often pay for goods and services compared to men. This gender-based pricing disparity can be seen across various industries, but one area it is particularly evident is in the realm of feminine hygiene products.
The "pink tax" refers to the phenomenon where products and services marketed towards women are priced higher than those targeted towards men, despite being essentially the same or very similar in terms of quality and functionality. This gender-based pricing discrepancy has been widely documented and criticized as a form of gender discrimination, as it often requires women to pay more for everyday essentials simply because of their gender.
Some common products and services that are subject to the pink tax include:
1. Personal care products: Items such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, and shaving cream are often priced higher for women compared to men's versions, despite having similar ingredients and functionalities.
2. Clothing: Women's clothing, particularly items like shirts, pants, and shoes, are frequently priced higher than similar products for men, even when they are made from the same materials and by the same brand.
3. Haircuts and salon services: Women's haircuts and salon services such as coloring and styling are typically more expensive than those for men, despite requiring similar time and effort from the stylist.
4. Health and beauty products: Items like skincare products, makeup, and perfumes are often priced higher for women, even when the ingredients and packaging are comparable to those of products marketed towards men.
5. Dry cleaning: Some dry cleaners charge higher prices for women's clothing compared to men's, claiming that women's garments require more delicate handling or specialized cleaning techniques.
6. Toys and accessories: Products like children's toys, backpacks, and school supplies for girls are sometimes priced higher than similar items for boys, reinforcing outdated gender stereotypes and imposing an additional financial burden on parents.
A study by Kiplinger;
“show that gender price discrimination can cost women in practical, physical, and financial ways. Data from the Economic Policy Institute show that women still make about twenty percent less on the dollar than men. Similar numbers from various studies show that women are likely to spend more for necessities like healthcare, clothing, and housing than similarly situated men. A New York pink tax study found that women’s products are, on average, 13% more expensive than similar men’s products. As a result, when products that are essential for women (like feminine hygiene products) are taxed as luxury items, that can have a significant financial impact. High and rising costs of period products have also led to an epidemic of “period poverty”— where an estimated one in four women and girls cannot afford menstrual products. Period poverty affects millions of women, and studies show that struggling to pay for menstrual products or not having those products can damage social, emotional, and menstrual health.”
Senator Bob Casey in his report The Pink Tax: Casey Exposes How Corporations Are Charging Women More for the Same Products lists J/”.P. Morgan estimates the price hike known as the “pink tax” could cost women an average of $1,300 per year:
Senator Casey has four reports out on GreedInflation and I could write an article on each one, but sticking with the title, what about the affect on tampons. BuzzFeed has an article on ShrinkInflation about the tampons and pads getting smaller so they don’t last as long and also with less product in the same size box. The aticle is a good read/
Since we can do little except complain, our President has come out and posted’
The White House
@WhiteHouse
Too many corporations raise their prices to pad their profits – charging you more and more for less and less. President Biden is calling on Congress to pass a bill ending shrinkflation.
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