How the "pink tax" makes being a woman even more expensive.

What would you do with an extra $1,531 in your pockets?

No, actually do it. Let your worries wash away and imagine the feeling of waking up to that direct deposit, what could that money do for you?

Did that feel good? It should. All fantasies should make you feel like you’re in another world.

Unfortunately, on this world, this seemingly obscure number actually represents the how much more women spend on common items than men each year, according to the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs.

Welcome back.

Come on, stay with me. 

This figure is commonly referred to as The Pink Tax, which refers to the way companies often package their products to appear more feminine.

In 2015, the DCA did a study comparing more than 700 products over 90 brands. Research found that on average, women pay 7% more for accessories, 8% more for clothes, and 13% more for personal care items.

That means everyday things like deodorant, shampoo and even white tees cost more when targeted towards women, even if the product is essentially the same. When the only major difference many men and women’s products is shape and color, the price jump lacks justification.

In 38 states and Washington D.C., feminine hygiene products like pads and tampons are considered “luxury items” rather than necessities, and therefore subject to sales tax.

While the differences may be only be a couple of cents, they add up over time. These discrepancies are only intensified by the gender pay gap, where in the U.S., women are paid an average of .80 cents to every $1 earned by men.

Essentially, women are earning less and paying more, which is in layman terms, A WHOLE JOKE. *ahem, adjusts hem of skirt*

That being said, what can we do to actively combat this phenomenon? You can:

Bust out the calculator

The men’s version isn’t always an automatic discount, so don’t be afraid to crunch some numbers when it comes to your purchases. Look at the price on a per ounce basis to get your money’s worth.

Talk about it, then be about it

Put the pressure on the businesses that you feel are unfairly hiking up prices for women. Women hold an incredibly strong purchasing power, and companies understand that well. We control more than 80 percent of the consumer economy, aka the bottom line. Since they’ll do anything they can to sell to us, let them know what works and what doesn’t.

Without strong word-of-mouth campaigns, we’d still have silly products like Bic pens “For Her” and Chick Beer on the market. For change to take place, we have to change the way we spend and not stand idly by while Craig gets to drop $1.17 less than we do on shaving cream every 2 weeks. You know what you could do with that money? Buy a milkshake from Chick-Fil-a.

So go on, spread the word, and tell the men in your life about it too. Everybody likes milkshakes.

Now I can finally become the writer I always dreamed of being! Thanks Bic! 

For when your Skinny Girl Margaritas just don't cut it. 

xo, Joyce