Gov. Cuomo: Ban 'Pink Tax' On Products Aimed At Women
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a new plan that he says will end gender discrimination for product pricing.
The phenomenon is called the "pink tax," the notion that women are charged more than men for essentially the same products or services.
For so many women, it's real and unfair.
"Men's shirt to be laundered are like $4.50. If I bring a blouse to the cleaners it's anywhere $6.50 to $8," one woman told CBS2's Kiran Dhillon on Sunday.
MORE: NYS Assembly Passes Bill To End "Pink Tax," Stop Companies From Overcharging Women For Basic Goods
Cuomo plans to put an end to the pink tax next year, announcing he'll push legislation that does just that.
Certain service providers will then have to post price lists for standard services. Businesses that don't could be hit with civil penalties.
Cuomo said research proves women do end up with a bigger bill for everyday items like toiletries and clothing.
A 2015 study by city officials found that 42% of the time, products marketed at women were more expensive than similar ones for men. It found merchandise aimed at women cost an average of 7% more and personal care products 13% more.
The study found that because many of the products are purchased so often, the so-called pink tax can add up and can lead to a significant financial burden on women over their lifetime.
"I guess they feel that women have to look good, where men don't care as much, and therefore they are willing to pay more for it," personal finance consumer expert Jordan Goodman said.
Goodman said retailers target women because they feel they can, leading to greater gender disparity.
"Women are already disadvantaged in that their pay tends to be less than men, and they work less because they take care of children. So, they're already at an economic disadvantage. So, earning less and paying more for similar products is really unfair," Goodman said.
Still, Goodman said the proposed legislation will be hard to enforce. Many shoppers agreed and said while the pink tax has to go, this isn't the way to do it.
"The free market is the free market. As much as it should go away, for government to step in and say so, it's none of their business," one man said.
Some said it's up to retailers to change, and consumers to boycott those that don't.
Cuomo's office said this is the latest move in curbing gender discrimination at the cash register. New York banned taxes on menstrual products in 2016.
