A New York City pharmacy is now imposing a 7 percent “man tax” to raise awareness about the so-called “pink tax.”
A study by New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs reported similar products cost 7 percent more when marketed to women than to men. That disparity caught the attention of Jolie Alony, owner of Thompson Chemists in SoHo.
Alony couldn’t be reached for comment today, but she told Gothamist, “We want to bring awareness on how it feels to be a woman, so the men actually get to feel it.”
Though women’s products cost marginally more, they also have the biggest potential to exert consumer pressure on shops. That’s because female buyers account for more than three-fourths of all consumer purchases.
Thompson Chemists’ decision prompted mixed reactions. While publications like Mic praised it for “flipping the pink tax” and “mak[ing] a statement about hypocrisy,” some on social media criticized the pharmacy for embracing a binary notion of gender or for discriminating against men.
Time to boycott this business!
Thompson Chemists # 1 212 598 9790
132 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012 pic.twitter.com/UL7wQA5SKB— ✨ Autumn Storm ✨ (@arcadiaoccult) October 11, 2016
Did you just assume my gender? :^) pic.twitter.com/M9TUKKZPdX
— Ford Freestar (@I_AM_IRON_VAN) October 10, 2016
I'm 100% sure this is discrimination & they can be sued & prosecuted under NY laws
NYC Pharmacy Slap Men w/ Man Tax https://t.co/n2j3Vnhctd
— mack truck (@thetrueMRAD) October 11, 2016
Good freaking grief. NYC looney toon (aka #Hillary supporter) charging a "male tax." https://t.co/qIM4Za8CSJ
— Mike Murray (@emmeffemm) October 11, 2016
