Avery Park

How effective have government policies been in eliminating the Pink Tax in the United States?

Started June 23, 2025

Abstract or project description

The Pink Tax is the practice of charging women more than men on almost identical products due to gender based marketing. The price difference that women have to pay leave them facing greater economic burden. Razors, shampoos, and lotions are made for both men and women, but oftentimes women pay a greater amount for the same item. The Tampon Tax, which goes hand-in-hand with the Pink Tax, is the sales tax imposed on feminine hygiene products. These items, including pads and tampons that women use regularly, are taxed as luxury items, even though many consider them to be necessities. As women continue to receive lower pay than men, they also have to spend more than men because of these unfair price differences. Policies and laws have been constructed, but many have not officially passed as laws. The Pink Tax Repeal Act has been introduced and reintroduced for over six years, but is not an official law. The Menstrual Equity for All Act is a federal bill, but once again not a law. The Period PROUD Act was proposed to the House of Representatives, but not enacted, and therefore it provides no legal rights. While no federal law has been passed to ban the Pink Tax, there are some state laws that have passed to ban or limit gender based pricing. California, New York, and Florida have all passed a law banning price differences based on genders. As of now, 31 states have also gone on to pass Tampon Tax Repeals, which removes the sales tax on menstrual products. The United States government is combatting this unequal gender based pricing, but it still has a long way to go. For example, the Pink Tax continues to prevail in personal care items and in the service industry. In stores and online, products like razors, shampoos, lotions, and deodorants remain subject to gender-based pricing differences. Haircuts and dry cleaning still charge a greater amount for women in comparison to how much men are charged. Therefore, despite powerful legislation, many women still encounter the Pink Tax in everyday purchases. As people continue to stand up and fight against the Pink Tax, some believe it is needed because it provides additional revenue. However, countries should not be allowed to profit off of gender based discrimination; especially not off of necessities made for the menstrual cycle. In order to truly defeat the Pink Tax, many steps must be taken. The government needs to enforce policies, businesses should promote and be equipped with gender neutral marketing, and legislation should be strict with support from educational campaigns. This research paper follows the effectiveness of the United States in its efforts to pass legislation that eliminates or reduces gender based pricing. To conclude, the Pink Tax is an unfair way to profit off of women and many more legal steps should be taken to eliminate it.