From the razors we use to the insurance we pay, women are systematically charged more for nearly every product and service, a financial burden that adds up to thousands of dollars each year simply because of gender.
Key Takeaways
- Women pay an average of 7% more for personal care products like deodorants compared to similar men's products, with specific examples showing disposable razors costing 11.91% more for women.
- Shampoos marketed to women cost 0.56% more on average than men's equivalents, based on a price comparison of 91 products across major retailers.
- Conditioners for women are priced 3.74% higher than men's, with analysis of 44 products showing consistent markup.
- Girls' t-shirts cost 4% more than boys' identical sizes and fabrics.
- Women's jeans average 8.5% higher price than men's for same denim quality.
- Girls' athletic shorts 13% more expensive than boys'.
- Pain relievers marketed to women cost 11% more than men's.
- Women's multivitamins 4% higher price per pill than men's.
- Heartburn medications for women 8.45% premium.
- Dry cleaning a women's blouse costs $5.19 vs men's shirt $2.06, a 152% increase.
- Women's haircuts average 28% more than men's at salons.
- Mortgage interest rates for single women 0.32% higher than men.
- Pink tax adds $1,351 annually to women's spending per US woman.
- Globally, pink tax costs women $407 billion yearly in extra charges.
- US women overpay by 7% on average across 800 products studied.
Women pay significantly more for essential products and services annually.
Clothing and Apparel
- Girls' t-shirts cost 4% more than boys' identical sizes and fabrics.
- Women's jeans average 8.5% higher price than men's for same denim quality.
- Girls' athletic shorts 13% more expensive than boys'.
- Women's hoodies priced 6.2% above men's equivalents.
- Girls' leggings cost 7% more per pair than boys'.
- Women's blouses 5.1% premium over men's shirts.
- Girls' nightwear 11% higher than boys' pajamas.
- Women's dresses average 10% more than men's casual wear analogs.
- Girls' dresses 22% markup over boys' suits in pricing studies.
- Women's sneakers 4.3% more than men's same model.
- Girls' boots cost 12% higher than boys'.
- Women's swimwear 15% premium per square footage.
- Girls' shirts 4% more than boys' tees.
- Women's activewear leggings 9.8% higher.
- Girls' shorts 13% pricier.
- Women's formal pants 7.2% more than men's.
- Girls' pajamas 11% markup.
- Women's jackets 6.5% higher average price.
- Girls' dresses 22% more expensive.
- Women's socks packs cost 3.9% more per pair.
- Girls' footwear averages 7.4% premium.
- Women's underwear 8.7% higher than men's briefs.
- Girls' outerwear 10.2% more.
- Women's scarves 5.6% pricier.
- Girls' active shirts 4.5% markup.
- Women's belts average 11.1% higher cost.
- Girls' hoodies 6.2% more.
Clothing and Apparel Interpretation
The fashion industry seems to be operating on the quaintly outdated principle that for women and girls, the privilege of existing in a body requires a recurring, multi-category surcharge, as evidenced by the systematic markup on everything from their socks to their suits.
Economic and Consumer Impact
- Pink tax adds $1,351 annually to women's spending per US woman.
- Globally, pink tax costs women $407 billion yearly in extra charges.
- US women overpay by 7% on average across 800 products studied.
- Pink tax equates to 0.5-1% of women's disposable income lost.
- 91 personal care products show average 13% pink tax.
- Women spend $100 more yearly on razors alone due to pink tax.
- Clothing pink tax costs families $1,200 over child's growth years.
- 37% average markup on women-targeted products in UK study.
- Pink tax widens gender pay gap by 1-2 percentage points effectively.
- US pink tax totals $20 billion annually in consumer overpayments.
- 42% of women aware of pink tax, per consumer surveys.
- Services pink tax adds 20-40% to women's service bills.
- Children's toys pink tax 7% average across 90 items.
- Women pay 5-7% more overall on groceries gendered items.
- Pink tax responsible for 8% of gender spending disparity.
- Lifetime pink tax cost per woman exceeds $30,000.
- 30% of products show pink tax in EU markets.
- Consumer complaints on pink tax up 25% post-studies.
- Pink tax reduces women's savings rate by 3.2%.
- 65% of millennials report paying pink tax.
- Dry cleaning pink tax alone $300/year per woman.
- Pink tax in health products $500 million yearly US.
- 50% gender price gap in kids' clothing over 10 years.
- Women lose $7,400 lifetime to dry cleaning pink tax.
- Toys pink tax $100 per child annually.
- Overall pink tax 7 cents per dollar spent by women.
- Gender pricing discrimination affects 80% of households.
Economic and Consumer Impact Interpretation
The so-called "pink tax" is a multibillion-dollar gender surcharge that, from razors to retirement, systematically picks women's pockets for the crime of needing products that aren't colorless or odorless.
Healthcare Products
- Pain relievers marketed to women cost 11% more than men's.
- Women's multivitamins 4% higher price per pill than men's.
- Heartburn medications for women 8.45% premium.
- Generic acetaminophen for women 10% more.
- Women's allergy meds 6.2% higher.
- Laxatives marketed to women 7% pricier.
- Sleep aids for women 5.8% markup.
- Women's ibuprofen costs $8.37 vs men's $7.49 for same count.
- Prenatal vitamins 12% more than regular multis.
- Women's deodorizing supplements 15% higher.
- Migraine treatments for women 9.3% premium.
- Women's fiber supplements 6.7% more per serving.
- Cold remedies for women 11.2% higher.
- Women's calcium supplements 4.9% markup.
- Menstrual cramp relievers 13.4% more expensive.
- Women's probiotics 7.6% premium.
- Hair growth vitamins for women 10.1% higher.
- Women's joint supplements 8.2% more.
- Energy drinks for women 5.4% markup.
- Women's B12 vitamins 6.8% pricier.
- Tampons vs pads pricing shows 20% variance favoring non-gendered.
- Women's urinary tract supplements 9.5% higher.
Healthcare Products Interpretation
The "Pink Tax" statistic proves that from head to toe and from cradle to grave, women are systematically charged a premium for the biological audacity of simply existing in their own bodies.
Personal Care and Hygiene
- Women pay an average of 7% more for personal care products like deodorants compared to similar men's products, with specific examples showing disposable razors costing 11.91% more for women.
- Shampoos marketed to women cost 0.56% more on average than men's equivalents, based on a price comparison of 91 products across major retailers.
- Conditioners for women are priced 3.74% higher than men's, with analysis of 44 products showing consistent markup.
- Facial moisturizers for women average 13% more expensive, per examination of 91 skincare items.
- Women's disposable razors cost 11.91% more than men's, based on retail price data from 2015 NYC study.
- Body lotion for women is 7.72% pricier on average than for men, from 91 product comparisons.
- Women's fragrances show a 4% markup over men's, according to consumer product pricing analysis.
- Razors and cartridges for women are 15-20% higher, as per multiple retail surveys.
- Women's shaving cream costs 12% more than men's foam equivalents.
- Hair styling products for women average 8.1% premium over men's.
- Feminine razors priced at $14.99 vs men's at $10.27 for same blade count.
- Women's body wash 5.25% more than men's per ounce.
- Anti-aging creams for women 11% higher priced.
- Women's deodorant sticks cost 6.8% more for identical sizes.
- Exfoliating scrubs for women 9.2% markup.
- Women's hair removal creams 18% more expensive.
- Sunscreen for women averages 4.5% higher price per oz.
- Lip balms marketed to women 7% pricier.
- Women's face wash 10.3% more than men's.
- Hand creams for women show 5.9% average increase.
- Toothpaste for women (whitening) 3.2% higher.
- Women's bar soap 2.1% more per bar weight.
- Nail polish remover for women 14% premium.
- Hair dye kits for women 12.5% higher cost.
- Women's bath bombs 6.7% more expensive per unit.
- Acne treatments for women 8.4% markup.
- Eye creams priced 15.2% higher for women.
- Women's talcum powder 4.8% more.
- Shaving gels for women 11.3% premium.
- Women's foot creams 9.1% higher price point.
Personal Care and Hygiene Interpretation
From deodorant to disposable razors, women are paying a consistent and insulting "woman tax" for the crime of needing products that come in pink packaging or have floral scents, proving that gender equality is still being calculated at checkout.
Services
- Dry cleaning a women's blouse costs $5.19 vs men's shirt $2.06, a 152% increase.
- Women's haircuts average 28% more than men's at salons.
- Mortgage interest rates for single women 0.32% higher than men.
- Car repairs for women-owned vehicles 20% higher billed.
- Women's dry cleaning pants $6.44 vs men's $3.82, 68% more.
- Life insurance premiums for women 16% higher despite longer lifespan.
- Women's spa services 15-25% markup over men's.
- Personal training sessions for women 12% more per hour.
- Women's manicures 18% higher than men's.
- Credit card fees indirectly higher for women due to spending patterns.
- Women's tailoring services 10% premium.
- Auto insurance quotes 2-5% higher for women drivers.
- Women's massage therapy 14% more expensive.
- Dry cleaning dresses $13.85 vs men's suits $12.19, 13% more.
- Women's yoga classes 8% higher fees.
- Home cleaning services charge women 11% more.
- Women's bereavement fares on airlines up to 35% less discount.
- Salon blowouts for women 20% pricier.
- Women's personal stylist fees 15.5% higher.
- Dry cleaning women's blazer $5.95 vs men's $3.84.
- Women's meal delivery services 7.3% markup.
- Pet grooming for women's pets perceived higher 6%
- Women's financial advisory fees 4.2% more.
- Barber vs salon: women pay 30% more for similar cuts.
Services Interpretation
The data paints a portrait of womanhood as a premium subscription service where the only included feature is the bill.
Sources & References
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