Many people confuse the pink tax and the tampon tax, but they are both distinctly different upcharges that make women's lives harder. --Violet regilio, 8th grade
Many people confuse the pink tax and the tampon tax, but they are both distinctly different upcharges that make women's lives harder.
What is Tampon Tax and Pink Tax?
The pink tax is the price of women’s products costing more than the same men's products.
Here’s a list of items that have been affected by the pink tax, according to Plan International.
The tampon tax, on the other hand, is a state tax applied to period products, including pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, according to Alliance for Period Supplies.
The Pink Tax
“Many women don’t ask for products to come in pink packaging and don’t deserve to pay more for comparable [mens] items” says a Chase Bank article.
Alexandria Regilio, a former employee in the beauty industry, states, “I used to work in the beauty industry… [and]... It’s really true that companies and brands can and will charge more for products that are… in pink packaging because they’re targeted to women.”
There have been government studies to test if the “pink tax” is real, explains Chase Bank. “A 2015 government study in the U.S found that across 800 gender-specific products from nearly 100 brands, personal care products marketed towards women were 13% more expensive than similar men's products.”
Regilio said she even has bought some products from the men’s section because the women's was more expensive.
“It’s unbelievable and definitely messed up on how our essentials have to cost more than men especially if we require more than men,” states Vanessa Shulte, a 7th grade OSA student.
A few states such as New York and California have eliminated the pink tax, or gender based pricing. New York banned the pink tax in 2020 and three years after, California followed, placing Ab 1287, California’s law banning the pink tax.
The State of California Department of Justice published an article, writing, “Ab 1287, California’s pink tax Law, codified at civil code 51.14, prohibits charging different prices for goods substantially similar but are priced different based on the gender of the products target audience, with products marketed to women or girls typically having higher prices.”
A New York State article states, “The ‘pink tax’ forces women to spend more on everyday necessities." It goes on to say that, “these price differences add to their [women's] economic burden… Women are already paid less than men, about 83 cents for every dollar a man makes, which limits their resources.”
The pink tax has women’s receipts longer than men’s, and has made it so they pay more for the same items.
People all over the US have been protesting for the pink tax to be banned, including the well known fast food restaurant, Burger King.
In 2018, Burger King added an item to their menu for a short time, called the “Chick Fries” which were regular chicken strips but they were priced at $3.09 instead of the regular price of $1.09. The “Chick Fries” were put in a pink box and sold in a few locations, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
“The goal was ‘to demonstrate the effect of [the] Pink Tax and how everyone should pay the same for the products -- whether it’s pink or not,’ said Christopher Finazzo, Burger King’s president for North America, in a statement,” explains CNBC.
More recently, activists have shared protests and petitions on change.org that support to eliminate the pink tax.
The Tampon Tax
What is Tampon Tax and Pink Tax?
The pink tax is the price of women’s products costing more than the same men's products.
Here’s a list of items that have been affected by the pink tax, according to Plan International.
- Personal care items (ex: razors, shampoo and conditioner, lotion, etc)
- Women's clothing
- Girls clothing
- Girls accessories
- Girls toys
- Helmets
The tampon tax, on the other hand, is a state tax applied to period products, including pads, tampons, and menstrual cups, according to Alliance for Period Supplies.
The Pink Tax
“Many women don’t ask for products to come in pink packaging and don’t deserve to pay more for comparable [mens] items” says a Chase Bank article.
Alexandria Regilio, a former employee in the beauty industry, states, “I used to work in the beauty industry… [and]... It’s really true that companies and brands can and will charge more for products that are… in pink packaging because they’re targeted to women.”
There have been government studies to test if the “pink tax” is real, explains Chase Bank. “A 2015 government study in the U.S found that across 800 gender-specific products from nearly 100 brands, personal care products marketed towards women were 13% more expensive than similar men's products.”
Regilio said she even has bought some products from the men’s section because the women's was more expensive.
“It’s unbelievable and definitely messed up on how our essentials have to cost more than men especially if we require more than men,” states Vanessa Shulte, a 7th grade OSA student.
A few states such as New York and California have eliminated the pink tax, or gender based pricing. New York banned the pink tax in 2020 and three years after, California followed, placing Ab 1287, California’s law banning the pink tax.
The State of California Department of Justice published an article, writing, “Ab 1287, California’s pink tax Law, codified at civil code 51.14, prohibits charging different prices for goods substantially similar but are priced different based on the gender of the products target audience, with products marketed to women or girls typically having higher prices.”
A New York State article states, “The ‘pink tax’ forces women to spend more on everyday necessities." It goes on to say that, “these price differences add to their [women's] economic burden… Women are already paid less than men, about 83 cents for every dollar a man makes, which limits their resources.”
The pink tax has women’s receipts longer than men’s, and has made it so they pay more for the same items.
People all over the US have been protesting for the pink tax to be banned, including the well known fast food restaurant, Burger King.
In 2018, Burger King added an item to their menu for a short time, called the “Chick Fries” which were regular chicken strips but they were priced at $3.09 instead of the regular price of $1.09. The “Chick Fries” were put in a pink box and sold in a few locations, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago.
“The goal was ‘to demonstrate the effect of [the] Pink Tax and how everyone should pay the same for the products -- whether it’s pink or not,’ said Christopher Finazzo, Burger King’s president for North America, in a statement,” explains CNBC.
More recently, activists have shared protests and petitions on change.org that support to eliminate the pink tax.
The Tampon Tax
In addition to the pink tax, a few states have a tampon tax.
The tampon tax has been a real burden for women/girls all over the world, especially people who earn less.
Violet Hirsch, a 7th grade OSA student, explains how important period products are.
“It’s Important to have period products be free or cost very little because some people don’t have as much money as others and that results in them not being able to buy products that they need.”
A Teen Vogue article explains this. “For the typical consumer, the price of menstrual hygiene products, which cost an average of $7 a month, can prove to be a burdensome cost… Particularly for low-income people or people experiencing homelessness.”
Not only are schools, workplaces and more not offering period products, but these necessities are being taxed, and most people don’t even notice.
“The tampon tax is insanity to think that these products were considered, and in some states, still considered luxury goods, instead of medical necessities. It’s crazy," states Regilio.
“Minnesota was the first to do so [eliminate tampon taxes] in 1981, and 23 others have followed suit, along with Washington, D.C.,” said CNBC.
This is seen as an achievement to menstruators all over many states, so now many don’t have to worry about spending unnecessary money when on their periods.
Although menstruation products are still too often and commonly referred to as luxury items in reality they are products that are bought every single day by menstruators, so many believe they are basic necessities.
According to Avalara, 18 states still tax period products. “As of May 5, 2026, 18 states still tax menstrual products: Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming” It continues, “Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are considering legislation to exempt menstrual products in 2026. Georgia and West Virginia are also considering sales tax holidays for menstrual hygiene products.”
Why are the Pink Tax and Tampon Tax Still Around?
A Global Citizen article explains that, “for many US states and countries, exempting menstrual products from being taxed results in reduced public revenue collection. Cutting tax on both diapers and tampons in California is estimated to eliminate about $55 million in revenue per year… when states eliminate the tampon tax, they end up having to increase tax rates on other items to make up for the loss.”
Plan International explains why the pink tax is around. “The pink tax exists because of gendered marketing and unequal power in the economy. Companies use gender norms and stereotypes to market products to women. They present these products as more specialised, attractive, or necessary. This tactic lets them charge higher prices, even when the products are similar to men's.” It then continues, “Women often face pressure to spend more on their appearance. They also have fewer economic advantages due to the gender pay gap. This creates a pricing imbalance that benefits businesses and feels normal in society.”
A WRDA article explains another point of view on why pink tax is still around.
“Through research, I've come to understand how companies use gendered marketing to justify these price disparities. Apparently as women we are generally less price sensitive when purchasing personal care items as they are more of a necessity to us women than men, so companies use this as an excuse to increase the prices on women's products.”
Why Does Eliminating The Tampon Tax and The Pink Tax Matter?
“The average person who menstruates spends about $1,773 on period products in their lifetimes,” says Global Citizen.
Many moms buy their daughters period products and basic necessities, so you can imagine how much money women lose a month due to the tampon tax and the pink tax.
“Menstruators spend about $100 and $225 in [only] tampon taxes in their lifetime,” says Global Citizen.
If you add up the cost of period products and the extra tampon tax, you would be spending about $1,998 in your lifetime only on period products and tampon taxes.
Women will end up spending roughly more than 40k in their lifetime on personal care goods, according to News Channel 8, whereas men will spend around $30k on personal care goods in their lifetime.
“The pink tax reminds us that discrimination can occur in unexpected places — even in the products and necessities we buy.” says Kiplinger.
“This affects us because it’s making us not want to be women, and that’s not good, because we are amazing,” says Wesleigh Stone, an 8th grade OSA student.
Many women around the world agree that the tampon tax and the pink tax are part of an unjust system that people have been trying to end for years, and for non-menstruators and non-women, it can be hard to understand why it matters to eliminate—but for women who have been living with the tampon tax and the pink tax for their whole lives, they deserve to not have to think about the financial burden this costs them.
