Black Women Against the Pink Tax, How to Avoid Unfair Pricing

The pink tax continues to be a pressing issue for ladies, especially black women, who face complex challenges due to gender and racial pay gaps. This price discrimination, where services geared toward women cost greater than those geared toward men, affects items starting from personal care products to clothing.

Although some states have introduced laws against gender-based price increases for services, it has been reported that products in stores remain largely unregulated, with women reportedly spend up to $1,300 more per 12 months on pink tax items than mendespite earning less. The pink tax is especially burdensome for black women, who already struggle with lower purchasing power due to the wage gap. Kaitlyn Henderson, a senior researcher at Oxfam America, recently shared the findings with BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP from her recent report, “The Low Wage Crisis,” which revealed that a bigger percentage of Black Americans, especially Black women, earn lower than their counterparts nationwide. The report clearly showed that 35% of Black women earn low wages, compared to 29% of Black men, 25.9% of white women, and 17.4% of white men.

To combat the pink tax, black women can adopt several strategies. Choosing male versions of some products, akin to razors and deodorants, could also be less expensive. Some online corporations, particularly in the razor industry, have managed offer gender-neutral pricingaccording to a January report . Comparing prices across corporations and selecting generic versions over brand-name ones may also get monetary savings. It’s essential to double-check product quantities and ingredients, as women’s products may contain less for the same price. Supporting equal pricing can be a vital strategy to combat the pink tax. As experts suggest, “…if you take your clothes in for professional cleaning and notice a price difference…ask if you can be charged the men’s rate.”

Currently, New York, California and Miami-Dade County in Florida have laws banning price discrimination. New York’s law prohibits pricing “substantially similar” goods otherwise based on sex. California’s 2023 law similarly bans price discrimination based on sex, allowing differences just for significant differences in production costs or time.

Anyone who will not be satisfied with the current policy can contact your elected representatives to express your concerns about the pink tax.