International Women's Day: What is the pink tax and why should this be rendered illegal worldwide?

In a room full of men and women deciding on the pricing strategy of the product and product line that a company is offering, no one has to say anything about the concept of pink tax to whomever the idea belongs to.

Well, as the name suggests, do not confuse it with the tax that the government charges from you. Pink tax is the tax that the company levies from their female customers; because they are manufacturing especially for females, they charge more from them.

The "Pink Tax" refers to the practice of charging women more than men for similar products or services. In India, the pink tax is a common phenomenon, with women often being charged more for products that are marketed specifically to them.

Some examples of the pink tax in India include:

Personal care products: Women's personal care products, such as shampoo, conditioner, and razors, are often priced higher than similar products marketed to men. For example, a women's razor may cost more than a men's razor, even though they perform the same function.

Clothing: Women's clothing is often priced higher than men's clothing, even for similar styles and materials. This is especially true for items such as formal wear and accessories.

Healthcare: Women may be charged more for certain healthcare services, such as reproductive health services and cosmetic procedures.

Beauty products: Women's beauty products, such as makeup and skincare, are often priced higher than men's products, even when the ingredients and quality are the same.

Don't you think it is quite unfair to pay more than men for the same product quality?

READ MORE: The Hidden Pink Tax: Why worry about it?

Shouldn't it be illegal?

It is quite clear that no one has ever taken the matter of the pink tax seriously enough, as in the era where women are given special facilities to ease down their lives by introducing maternity benefits, insurance, and tax benefits by the end of the government, at the same time, corporates didn't get a chance to modify their pricing strategy.

Well, we can't say that the direction of bringing gender equality is totally wrong, but regulation on the pricing strategy of the companies shouldn't be overlooked, as we have to understand that there are single moms, breadwinners of their families having to buy expensive products, just because they are women.

Rationality is shown by the part of the government

On the one hand, the launch of "Beti padhao Beti bachao" and similar schemes exist in India. On the other hand, products like male contraceptives are tax-free (which is definitely a choice), and reusable tampons and sanitary napkins were taxed at 12%, which is now fully exempted.

Just as the tax on sanitary napkins and other similar products are now exempted, can we, as a woman, hope that pricing discrimination practices by companies will also be regulated in the country?

Conclusion

This women's day, we can hope that the government will take further action on the company's practices as the United Nations has already called on the countries to take considerable steps and eliminate the legal discrimination happening worldwide. It not only gives women a sense of equality among men but also gives relief to women with tight budgets.
 

Anushka Trivedi is a freelance financial content writer. She can be reached at anushkatrivedi.com