Ladies, do you consider your period luxury? Didn't think so. But have you noticed that necessities such as tampons and pads are taxed the same as luxury items? Also, are you aware that products geared toward women tend to cost more than those marketed towards male counterparts, like pink vs blue razors? Although I don't know anybody that would call menstruation a luxury, it turns out that women are getting the short end of the stick just for being born female.

The pink tax refers to the price difference in products, such as razors, shaving cream, deodorants and even lighters that are identical in function, but may appear different so they can be marketed towards women. It also includes taxation of tampons and pads as luxury items, also called the tampon tax. And trust me, it's real.

Forty states in America impose a tax — either a regular sales tax or luxury tax — on tampons and other menstrual products. Although New Jersey doesn’t impose the tax, it still affects women throughout the country.

The pink tax gained more attention recently due to a petition started by a French woman under the pen name Georgette Sand. In December, Sand’s petition drew over 40,000 signatures.

“A packet of five pink disposable razors was priced at 1.80 euros, or about $2.25, while a packet of 10 blue disposable razors was priced at €1.72,” Sand said about her local supermarket in her online blog.

The tax is not only in France. Here in America, you see the difference in your local Walgreens or Shoprite. The New York Times reported, “In 2010, Consumer Reports found that drugstores set higher prices for products directed at women. At Walgreens, for example, Excedrin Complete Menstrual cost 50 cents more than Excedrin Extra Strength, even though both contained the same ingredients in the same quantities.”

“In 2011, researchers at the University of Central Florida found that women paid more for deodorants, razors and body spray sold at national retailers,” The New York Times reported.

Isn’t that ridiculous that simply because products are “directed towards women” (i.e., pink or flowery, because that’s what advertisers tell women they should want), they are significantly more expensive? In states where tampons are taxed as a product that isn’t necessary, women pay extra simply for being female.

To oppose the pink tax, women can refuse to pay more for "girly" items by buying men’s razors and shaving creams. They work better, don’t reek of potpourri, and are significantly less expensive. There is no law barring women from using products that are geared toward men. In the long run, you will notice the savings add up.

If enough women start buying men’s products and petitioning the government, the pink tax could be repealed. It’s in the hands of every citizen, male or female, to fight for equality.

Photo: KGW-TV