The pink tax stinks: We need fair prices for items no matter who's buying them

By JaNiya Hawkins brice

Staff writer

I love pink — it’s my favorite color, so of course, I’m drawn to buy things in pink. Clothes, shoes, accessories. Anything you can think of. But I’ve noticed something really annoying: pink versions of things, even something as simple as a toothbrush, cost more than the same item in any other color. And there’s no difference between them except the color. The pink tax is an unfair practice where products marketed to women cost more, even when there’s no difference in quality. This pricing discrimination adds to the financial burden women already face due to lower wages. It’s time to challenge the pink tax and push for equal pricing for everyone, regardless of gender. So, why is pink more expensive?

Pink became known as a "girl color" because of trends in the early 1900s when stores started marketing it specifically for girls. Before that, pink was actually considered a more masculine color because it’s a lighter shade of red, which was associated with strength. But by the 1920s, the color shift started, and by the 1980s, pink was more strongly linked to girls and blue to boys.

This change led to the rise of the "pink tax," where pink items — even things like razors, pens, and tricycles — cost more than their blue or neutral counterparts. The price difference has nothing to do with quality or cost to make.  It’s just that the product is marketed toward women or girls. Some states, like New York and California, have laws to stop this, but it’s still a widespread problem.

The pink tax is part of a bigger issue: gender-based pricing. Women often pay more for things just because they’re marketed as "for women," even though similar products for men are cheaper. This is especially unfair when you consider that women typically earn less than men — in 2015, women made only 80 percent of what men earned for the same work. So, the extra money women pay for products, like razors or clothes, adds up quickly.

A study in New York found that women’s products are, on average, 13 percent more expensive than similar products for men. And it’s not just pink items. Anything marketed to women can be priced higher — from razors to feminine hygiene products. When essential items like these are taxed as luxury goods, it becomes a financial burden.

The pink tax isn’t just about color– it’s about the way products are priced based on who they're intended for. It’s unfair and frustrating, especially when women already face pay inequality.It’s time to challenge the pink tax and push for equal pricing for everyone, regardless of gender. It's time for us to stand up against the pink tax and demand fair prices for everyone.