This Pharmacy Started Charging a 7% "Man Tax" — And People Are Not Happy

Caroline Picard
Updated

From Good Housekeeping

No one likes paying taxes, but it's no secret that women pay an extra surcharge on the products they buy. It's called the "pink tax," or when retailers charge slightly more for the feminine version of the same men's product, like shampoo or razors. This week, one New York City pharmacy decided to even the score.

Thompson Chemists in Soho debuted a 7% "man tax" on Monday by adding two bold signs to its store windows. Their goal is to publicize one of womanhood's financial hardships (because let's not forget the wage gap). The figure comes from a report the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs published last year. Testing across five major categories, the study found products marketed to women cost (you guessed it) on average 7% more than the equivalent male ones.

"Women are spending more in general and we make less, so we deserve to have a break," store owner Jolie Alony told the Daily Dot. In order to comply with city regulations, Alony isn't actually charging an extra tax. She's offering a 7% discount for women and ringing men up at the regular price. The NYC Department of Consumer Affairs also told Gothamist the promotion follows the law because there is no ban on price discrimination for goods, only services.

Alony shared that while a lot of couples have enjoyed the signs, some opponents are accusing her of reverse sexism. According to News 10, the pharmacy was "bombarded" with negative phone calls after Alony posted the sign. ""It wasn't to hurt anybody, it wasn't the intention to do anything bad," she said.

Thompson Chemists has since urged people to "calm down" on its Facebook page. "This is a friendly reminder to treat your friends and neighbors as equal," the post explained. While Alony's not sure when the promotion will end, her important point has already reached lots of men and women.

[h/t Mashable]

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