Thought Bubble: Pink Tax on My Mind 💭

03.31.2023 - By: Anastasia Barbuzzi

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If you’re not angry, you’re asleep.

Let me unpack that.

I was listening to a podcast the other day, and on women’s rights, an activist I highly admire said, “If you’re not angry, you’re asleep.”

Her words encapsulated how I’ve felt about social justice issues, notably women’s financial independence, for a long time. They summed up my feelings about those who turn the other cheek or decide they can’t change the world, so they pretend certain things don’t affect them or staying silent is the better— or the only— option.

A friend sent me the article pictured above on Friday, and immediately, the quote popped back into my head. Translation: If you’re not upset or frustrated over injustices that directly or indirectly affect you, you haven’t woken up to their reality, or maybe you’ve chosen not to care. We could talk about the selfishness that entails, but I’ll save that for another day.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been angry about the pink tax. I’ve dedicated entire episodes to the subject and to period poverty. (Episodes 12, 13, 43, 45, 53, and 56, if you were wondering. There will be more to come). For all the naysayers, this shit is real, people—the #DataDon’tLie, as I like to say.

To their credit, Shoppers Drug Mart decided to take action this week after CBC’s Marketplace found that painkillers labeled as a treatment for menstrual cramps cost more than near-identical painkillers marketed for headaches and other pain.

Read: same formulas, no additional cost to companies to make, but different prices for women.

A little more context: For decades, major corporations have taken advantage of the fact that having a period requires specific menstrual hygiene and, sometimes, pain management products. And they’ve capitalized off of it. But it doesn’t apply to just those categories; the price of women’s razors, body wash, and deodorant is noticeably higher depending on the brand or store, even if they’re made from the same stuff.

Does it seem fair that products essential to women’s health are getting price gouged, just because... we’re women?

Allow our pal Bill to illustrate how some people feel about it in the comments:

Fascinating. The comments section beneath articles like this always floors me. Luckily, Anne and Valérie stepped in.

Bill actually pointed out a couple of key arguments for how wrong the pink tax is, obviously oblivious to it, including impoverishing women. He also pointed out why it’s so vital that we create awareness about the pink tax because if we didn’t have anyone peeling back the curtain, most of us wouldn’t know enough to inquire about the surcharge.

Often, it can be boiled down to companies pricing certain products, then adding on a few extra bucks because they’re for your period. That’s called taking advantage. And sorry, (not sorry) Galen, but it’s serving corporate greed, gender-based discrimination, and a list of other things.

Are you angry now?! If your answer is ‘yes,’ then good. Because I’m done ranting for today.

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Thoughts? Questions? Leave ‘em in the comments below 💚