I’m glad I wasn’t born a woman. Life seems hard enough as it is being a man. Wiser people said it before. John Lennon comes to mind. I don’t want to cover the pay gap, the differences in working conditions, or even the relative absence of women in IT despite their clear added value. These are all known issues.
I want to focus on a small bit that may interest you, especially if you are a woman. I want to talk about the pink tax. The pink tax is the tendency of companies to up the price on feminine products. What does that have to do with optimising my life, you ask. Well, I’m glad you asked.
It turns out that the pink tax often applies to gender-neutral products, too. Take the shaving razor, for example. 8 blades for men cost £12.00. 8 blades for women cost £15.49. How about this set of DIY tools in pink (£26.99) vs the same set in black and red (£25.99, also available in blue with an extra tool for the same price)?
These products are virtually identical. You won’t get better results with the feminine blades or hammer. So why pay the pink tax?
The next time you are about to buy a product, ask yourself a few questions:
- Is this product targeting girls or women?
- Is there a male-targeting equivalent?
- Does the alternative satisfy your requirement?
If your answer to all of the above is “yes” – don’t throw your money away. Buy the cheaper product. Then let others know, and maybe the pink tax will eventually go away.
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Optimising My Life 