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Consumer Protection: Gender-Related Price Differences for Goods and Services

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Aug. 9, 2018
Release Date Aug. 23, 2018
Report No. GAO-18-500
Summary:

Do women pay more than men for similar consumer products, giving rise to what some call a “Pink Tax”? After controlling for product size and other factors, prices for half of the personal care items we looked at are higher for women, including deodorants and fragrances. Some men's items cost more, such as razors.

Whether the price differences are due to gender bias is unclear. Ad costs and consumer preferences also affect pricing. No federal law prevents firms from charging different prices for men's and women's products.

Three federal agencies that oversee antidiscrimination laws received few consumer complaints about gender bias in pricing.

 

Photo of a woman holding a pink razor in one hand, and a blue one in another, and looking perplexed

Photo of a woman holding a pink razor in one hand, and a blue one in another, and looking perplexed

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