Pink Tax Repeal Act Introduced in House

[niyad]

Pink Tax Repeal Act Introduced in House


On Monday, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), along with 24 cosponsors, introduced the Pink Tax Repeal Act in Congress to combat the unequal pricing of products based on gender.
The “pink tax” refers to the higher prices of products that are marketed toward women when compared with similar products marketed toward men, contributing to the unequal financial burdens that women face. Some of these products, including shaving cream, antiperspirant, and even pain relievers, can cost up to 50% more.

The Pink Tax Repeal Act to stop gender-pricing in both goods and services, allows the Federal Trade Commission to impose sanctions against violators, and permits state attorneys general to take civil action against this discrimination on behalf of consumers. In a press release on her website, Congresswoman Speier states, “These acts of discrimination have cost women incalculable economic damage while fostering misogynistic attitudes that fight to keep women from achieving true equality in America.”

In December of 2015, the New York Department of Consumer Affairs conducted a study on gender-based pricing in New York City and found that, on average, products for women cost seven percent more than products for men. A woman can spend up to $100,000 in pink tax dollars over the course of her lifetime.

Gender-discriminatory pricing in goods and services only adds to the effect of the gender wage gap, further undermining women’s economic security and ability to make ends meet. Currently, women, on average, are paid only 79 cents for every dollar a man earns, and women of color experience even larger wage gaps: African-American women, for example, are paid only 60 cents for every dollar a white man earns, and Latinas make only 55 cents. The gender wage gap alone costs women, on average, more than $430,000 over the course of a 40-year career, according to research from the National Women’s Law Center.


http://feminist.org/blog/index.php/2016/07/12/pink-tax-repeal-act-introduced-in-house/

[Warpy]

1. I learned decades ago that if it comes in pink packaging, I need to avoid it

My hair dryers have all been cow flop brown or hipster black, marketed to men. Ditto the razors back when I used them. Being female means being paid a pittance and overcharged, so I've avoided most "female" products. My latest grooming purchase was a new nail clipper, packaged in black, marketed to "him," and cost 1/3 less than the one in pink.

It's been a good policy that has likely saved me a lot of money over my many years.

[niyad]

2. even before I knew about the pink tax, as a child, I avoided everything in pink. like you,

I figure this has saved me a great deal of money.

[Warpy]

3. Did you grow up in the 50s?

Every house and apartment my parents lived in had a pink bedroom and a blue bedroom and I always got stuck with the pink one. It was like growing up in some monster's digestive tract and I've loathed pink ever since.

Saved me a fortune.

[niyad]

4. yes. always hated the gender-based colouring. as far as I have been concerned,

pink only belongs in flowers.