‘Being a woman is expensive’: medical student triggers debate on ‘pink tax’
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New Delhi: A medical student triggered conversation on social media over women being charged allegedly more for the same products and services than men pay, NDTV reported.
The MBBS student shared her observations over what is called "pink tax" phenomenon where women are allegedly facing discrimination on price compared to what men pay for the same products.
Pink tax is all about products designed for women being more expensive compared to similar ones sold for men.
This is despite products are having similar ingredients and serving the same functions.
Posting on platform X from the handle ‘purpleready’, the woman said ‘ being woman is so expensive’, citing hygiene products costing around Rs 150 a month, price of good bra around Rs 400-500, adding ‘you need a good supportive bra to workout, run, or do sports which costs anywhere around ₹ 800-1500. On an average women pay 7% more on similar products to men, but it can be much much more’.
Pointing out the cost of personal care items, she said ‘Specifically, women get charged on average: 50% more on income protection, 29% more on razor blades, 16% more for body wash, etc. Most pink tax is found in personal care items, and clothing. On average women pay around $1300(Rs. 1 Lakh +) more than men for the same goods and services.’
The post has triggered debate online with many users agreeing with what she said about the cost of personal products for women.
One user wrote, 'You missed the haircut, saloon, and grooming parlour. Men: 150 rupees; women: 3000 rupees.’
Another user wanted her to add ‘cosmetic products we use daily for office, the cost clothes, matching shoes, hair accessories etc.’
A third user said: ‘But the rest yeah I'm not particularly aware of the truth behind it so I'm not gonna say anything about that. And I do agree that pink tax is cumbersome, but I don't really understand what the fix is cause men aren't causing it politics is.’
