Pink Tax

Front 1

What I am about to discuss is an issue of public concern that only a few are actually aware of yet it’s something that’s affecting all of us as individuals, as consumers and as civically engaged members of society who care about equality. This issue has recently been moved to the front burner on the stove of discussion around the world and has most recently shed it’s light in the Unites States. It’s called “Pink Tax” and it’s a tax placed upon certain goods and services aimed towards women, which is not only unfair but also inherent discrimination and it needs to be abolished worldwide.

Back 1

According to moneymatters.com, QUOTE “Pink Tax refers to the extra amount of money women are charged for certain products or services. Things like dry cleaning, vehicle maintenance, personal care or hygiene products sometimes labeled as “luxury items” such as tampons, (which are not luxury items) and almost everything else marketed towards or sold to women.” End quote.

Front 2

Some sources claim that this is a basic marketing and sales tactic and that women will simply pay more for name branded,colorful and wordy product packaging, therefore companies can charge more.There’s no inherent discrimination that seeks to oppress women, it’s just a way to make more money on a product. Uh no, pink tax is an inherent injustice and companies are in fact mistreating their female customers by charging them more for similar products, certain gender laws aren’t being followed and something legislatively and socially needs to change, discrimination against women needs to stop. Hello, It’s 2016?

Back 2

This so called pink tax on products and services marketed to women affects almost every female in American, and by now I bet the men have tuned out of this conversation… so men, why should you care? Well I’m sure you have sisters,mothers, grandmothers and you might even get married to a woman one day that you will be buying tampons for.

My goal: is to convince all of you that this discrimination placed upon certain products, is a global problem that affects everybody and while it seems like a larger than life issue, there are some actions that can be taken to equal the playing and paying field.

Front 3

Like I mentioned this is a global issue and there have been protests and petitions signed around the world to get rid of this regulatory discrimination, the biggest focus of the Pink Tax movement has been on tampon tax. It infuriates women around the world that tampons and napkins have been labeled as luxury items deserving taxation, and also, they are taxed at an insanely high rate, around 5-8 percent. Feminine hygiene is not a choice and should not be taxed.

Back 3

First,in United Kingdom, a few women staged a “tampon tax” protest while on their periods last fall by publicly bleeding in their white pants for in hopes to explain how uncomfortable they felt having to pay tampon tax. Next came Australia where women dressed up as pads and stood in front of theirCapitol Hill, here are more protests in Europe and lastly Canada. Not convinced this is a real issue, just feminist ideology? Lets take a look at a Consumer Reports article for a list of products that men pay less for here in the United States…. They searched at Walgreens and other drugstores and here’s a list of items they discovered.

Front 4

California assembly member Cristina Garcia kicked off her first day of the 2016 legislation to focus on these products.She introduced a measure to make feminine hygiene products exempt from sales tax. She called this a “bipartisan effort that will end the “tampon tax” and bring more gender equity to California’s tax code.” According to CaliforniaStateAssembly.org it is currently estimated that women in California pay over 20 million annually in taxes on tampons and sanitary napkins.

Back 4

Garcia says, “Basically we are being taxed for being women. Our government is imposing a charge exclusively on women by forcing them to pay extra for the privilege of a health necessity.” Currently California law exempts health items such as walkers, birth control, Viagra and even medicated condoms from tax, but tampons are not exempt. This measure Garcia introduced is a step in the right direction to fix this gender injustice. And here is a copy of the bill and it started out as just her proposing the measure, but the document has been updated and she has many more supporters now helped the bill get passed.

Front 5

Map** alongside California… Wisconsin, lawmakers in Chicago, Utah, Ohio, New York,Michigan and Connecticut have proposed similar legislation to eliminate the tax. (1) TaxesTampons: is a use tax which includes state and local tax rates(2) SalesTax on Tampons: sales tax is collected at the point of sale by the retailer and then passed on to the government(3) NOTAX

Back 5

Get more states on board? Start by not being skeptical of the issue, realize problem & demand companies & states to play fair. Starting petitions, Canada’s movement started, with 75,000 signatures & tax free= July 1st 2015. Raise awareness via social media & there is a twitter hash tag#PinkTax. Be a public example like Christina Garcia challenged her local legislation to remove tax. This is something that should anger you, women not only make less money but we also pay more. Something like this can effect long term success of women around the world & deserves more attention.