Editorials & Other Articles

erpowers

(9,350 posts) Wed Dec 23, 2015, 05:14 PM Dec 2015

Why you should always buy the men’s version of almost anything

Radio Flyer sells a red scooter for boys and a pink scooter for girls. Both feature plastic handlebars, three wheels and a foot brake. Both weigh about five pounds.

The only significant difference is the price, a new report reveals. Target listed one for $24.99 and the other for $49.99.

The scooters' price gap isn't an anomaly. The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs compared nearly 800 products with female and male versions — meaning they were practically identical except for the gender-specific packaging — and uncovered a persistent surcharge for one of the sexes. Controlling for quality, items marketed to girls and women cost an average 7 percent more than similar products aimed at boys and men.

DCA Commissioner Julie Menin, who launched the investigation this summer, said the numbers show an insidious form of gender discrimination. Compounding the injustice, she said, is the wage gap. Federal data shows women in the United States earn about 79 cents for every dollar paid to men.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/22/women-really-do-pay-more-for-razors-and-almost-everything-else/?tid=pm_business_pop_b

6 replies

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Highlight:

Why you should always buy the men’s version of almost anything (Original Post) erpowers Dec 2015 OP

my advice would be to not buy the one for 50 Doctor_J Dec 2015 #1

Girls aren't compelled to buy things just because they are pink PaulaFarrell Dec 2015 #2

They may charge 7% more, but females make 23% less so it all works out. Scuba Dec 2015 #3

Buy men's socks burrowowl Dec 2015 #4

Bigger pockets, too jmowreader Dec 2015 #5

You have good ideas daybranch Dec 2015 #6

Doctor_J

(36,392 posts)

1. my advice would be to not buy the one for 50

Reply to erpowers (Original post)

Wed Dec 23, 2015, 06:04 PM

Dec 2015

If people didn't pay that much for them, they wouldn't be priced like that

PaulaFarrell

(1,236 posts)

2. Girls aren't compelled to buy things just because they are pink

Reply to erpowers (Original post)

Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:17 PM

Dec 2015

surely the gender discrimination is assuming a woman would choose to buy a product because of its girlie colour? hey, my favourite store is the hardware store. but i would never buy a pink hammer...

Scuba

(53,475 posts)

3. They may charge 7% more, but females make 23% less so it all works out.

Reply to erpowers (Original post)

Wed Dec 23, 2015, 08:56 PM

Dec 2015

Republican logic.

burrowowl

(17,641 posts)

4. Buy men's socks

Reply to erpowers (Original post)

Wed Dec 23, 2015, 09:53 PM

Dec 2015

jeans, etc. cheaper and in same brand.

jmowreader

(50,560 posts)

5. Bigger pockets, too

Reply to burrowowl (Reply #4)

Thu Dec 24, 2015, 04:30 AM

Dec 2015

The shape of my lower half is such that if I wear men's pants, either the waist is too big or the ass is too small. In women's pants, both the ass and the waist fit just right...but the pockets are half the size of those on men's pants, if there are pockets at all. I realize women carry purses, but come on: you mean no woman ever carries keys in her pocket?

daybranch

(1,309 posts)

6. You have good ideas

Reply to jmowreader (Reply #5)

Thu Dec 24, 2015, 05:36 AM

Dec 2015

surely some women owned company can make what you want? If not I am sure a man can also see the feasibility of your ideas. Maybe you could start a moveon poll complaining about the lack of work clothes for women as gender discrimination? If you get enough signatures you could take these to a clothing company as proof there is a market. Good luck from an old white guy who welcomes more women in the hardware department.

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