BUFFALO, N.Y. — Governor Andrew Cuomo says women shoppers in New York State have been taken advantage of and he has an idea on how to stop it.
The issue is the differing prices charged to men and women on similar products.
The Governor refers to it as the “Pink Tax,” and has made eliminating it part of his legislative to-do list for 2020.
“Women shouldn’t be nickeled and dimed their entire lives because of their gender,” Cuomo said.
The Cuomo administration points to pricing research done in 2015 as proof of its need to act on this issue.
That year, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found on similar goods, women paid 7% more.
The study notes Levis’ 501 jeans for men were priced at $68. The same model jeans for women cost $88.
A certain model of Schick razors cost women $3.50 more than the version offered to men.
Even toys had price differences. A red child’s scooter was listed at $24.99. The pink version of the same scooter was twice as expensive at $49.99.
And the research had an impact, says Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Lorelei Salas, “I can tell you that I’ve seen businesses that have learned how to advertise their prices in a way that’s gender-neutral.”
Governor Cuomo’s initiative includes fines for businesses that charge women more than men for similar goods.
The Governor’s office is not indicting for now whether they will try to fold the “Pink Tax” legislation into the new state budget or whether they will attempt to advance it through the normal legislative process.