A heated argument erupted on X after a medical student revealed light on the contentious “pink tax” phenomenon, in which women are supposedly charged more than males for the same items and services. The MBBS student discussed her thoughts on gender-based price disparities with various practical examples.

”Being a woman is really expensive. On average, period hygiene items cost around ₹ 150 per month, while a nice bra costs around ₹ 400-500. A supportive bra is necessary for workouts, running, or sports and can cost up to ₹ 800-1500. On average, women pay 7% more for similar things than males, although this can be significantly higher.

Women are charged an average of 50% more for income protection, 29% more for razor blades, 16% more for body wash, and so on. Personal care products and apparel bear the brunt of the pink tax. “On average, women pay around $1300 (Rs. 1 lakh +) more than men for the same goods and services,” she stated in her post.

Her article sparked a spirited conversation, with users offering both support and counter-arguments. While many people agreed with her, others had other opinions. One user said, ”You missed the haircut, saloon, and grooming parlour. Men pay 150 rupees; ladies pay 3000 rupees.

Another commented, ”Add cosmetic products we use daily for the office, the expense of clothes, matching shoes, hair accessories, and so on.

A third added, ”But the rest, I’m not especially aware of the reality behind it, so I’m not going to say anything about it. And I agree that the pink tax is inconvenient, but I’m not sure what the solution is because men aren’t generating it; politics is. A fourth commented, ”The pink tax is real and has a lengthy history. The only way to avoid that tax is to not pay it. Quality items can also be found at a reasonable price, but you must look for them. Only when you stop buying on whims will you be charged normally.

Notably, the pink tax is a concept in which all things marketed for women are more expensive than equivalent products offered for males, while having similar functionality and contents. This pricing disparity is frequently observed across a wide range of consumer goods and services, including personal care products, apparel, toys, and even services such as dry cleaning.

Several studies have shown that women spend thousands of dollars more than males on the identical things over their lifetime.