LABOUR SENATOR LORRAINE Higgins is calling on people to boycott products aimed at women that are subject to a “pink tax”.
Higgins says that retailers are engaging in “gender price discrimination” by setting higher prices for products aimed at women compared to similar products for men.
“For example, according to research conducted recently, in the case of Tesco own-brand deodorant, the cheapest female option was a 75ml can for 69c,” said Higgins.
However, the cheapest own-brand male deodorant was a 150ml can for 74c. The male own-brand deodorant was almost the same price but twice the size of the female one, giving much better value.
A look at Tesco’s Irish website shows that the retailer does indeed list two own-brand 75ml deodorants, ‘Pink’ and ‘Lilac’, for 69c. Two other 150ml deodorants listed as ‘Mens body spray’ are on sale for 74c.
The site does also list a deodorant called ‘Tesco Every day Value Roll’, ostensibly a unisex product, at 59c for 50ml.
The Labour Senator also makes similar criticism of toiletries in Dunnes Stores as well as a women’s rucksack which she says is more expensive despite being smaller.
“Recently, women’s groups in France have challenged similar price discrepancies there,” says Higgins. ”It is high time we do the same here and vote with our cents by not buying those products in stores who apply a pink tax, effectively discriminating against women.”
The French campaign referred led to the country’s Finance ministry vowing to investigate after an online petition secured almost 45,000 signatures.
“This fact, combined with the increasing gender gap in pay for Irish women as outlined by the European Commission, means that female consumers are repeatedly penalised,” adds Higgins.
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