Women who always suspected they pay more than men for personal shavers or shampoo, even when the products are so similar they could be copies, got evidence this week to back their hunches.
A study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs of nearly 800 products with clear male and female versions found some women’s products cost on average 7 percent more than men’s.
Jeans, home health care products and toys were among the items that cost less for men, even when the item was very similar to one manufactured for a woman.
“Over the course of a woman’s life, the financial impact of these gender-based pricing disparities is significant,” the study’s authors said.
The authors pointed to a 1994 study from the state of California, which estimated women paid a “gender tax” that cost them annually about $1,351 for the same services as men.
An example of the disparity included scooters from retailer Target. Though the scooters were identical in most ways — including design, size and weight — the boys scooter cost $24.99, while the girls cost $49.99.
Target called the price difference a “system error” and lowered the cost of the girls’ scooter after becoming aware of the report, which was released Friday.
On average the female version of toys and accessories cost 7 percent more while girls’ clothing cost 4 percent more than similar outfits for boys, the study found.
Clothing for young adult women cost 8 percent more, according to the study, while women pay 13 percent more for personal care products similar to those manufactured for men.
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