Tackling the pink tax on campus
Women pay more for everyday essentials — not because the products are better or significantly different, but because they are marketed towards women. This is known as the “pink tax,” a price disparity that quietly inflates the cost of everyday items like razors, deodorant and hygiene products up to 13% higher for women. While not an official tax, it functions as one, forcing women to pay more for basic necessities. The pink tax adds another unnecessary financial strain for college students who already face rising costs and tight budgets. Tackling this issue will require institutional commitment and a community dedicated to ensuring
economic fairness.
Some states, such as California and Illinois, require public colleges to provide free feminine hygiene products. In 2023, Georgia provided $1.45 million in funding for period products in public schools in grades 5 through 12. However, the state did not provide funding or requirements for women’s hygiene products in public colleges. Georgia also still levies a “tampon tax,” applying a 4% sales tax on all menstrual hygiene products, furthering the economic burden of having a period. With the lack of support from the state, people who menstruate must front the cost, sometimes relying on individual action by schools and organizations to address the pink tax costs.
Here at Tech, in the spring of 2020 the Menstrual Product Program, co-piloted by the Student Government Association (SGA) and Center for the Study of Women, Science and Technology, began providing access to free period products in restrooms across campus. The program was a significant step towards lowering costs for women at Tech.
However, there is more work to do. Many women report inconsistent availability of menstrual products in restrooms on campus. The Institute should stock these products as regularly as paper towels or toilet paper. Programs so essential to student well-being should carry the full support of the Institute, and it is time for Tech to implement and administer a campus-wide free menstrual product policy in addition to SGA’s efforts.
Free products are not the only solution to addressing the pink tax on campus. Tech has the opportunity to develop new solutions to tackle disparities in pricing and access to hygiene products. In stores and markets on campus, the Institute could equalize the cost of all gendered items, not just on period products, but on deodorant, razors and all other sorts of goods that are often more expensive solely because they are intended for women. There is no reason why a woman should be paying more for a product virtually identical to a male-targeted item. By simply reducing the price of the goods Tech sells, they could fight the pink tax and mitigate the financial injustice female students face.
With the closure of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) earlier this month, it is essential to ask who will work to address women’s issues on campus. The WRC was the centralized organization that could have addressed issues like financial burdens on female students or access to period products in campus bathrooms. In fact, the WRC hosted meetings for female students to discuss financial wellness. The center provided a space to build women leaders, address violence against women and highlight the achievements of women on campus. In the wake of its sudden dissolution, students are left wondering where to turn and how to access the resources that are still available.
The administration’s commitment to providing resources to help women on campus and communicate those resources to the student body must continue. Students should never be in the dark about how to find help on campus. By clearly outlining the support systems still available and how students can utilize them, the administration can reaffirm its commitment to ensuring the success and well-being of all students on campus. Regardless of which new program or facility Tech charges with continuing the mission of women’s well-being on campus, students deserve to know where to turn.
This burden of advocacy cannot solely fall on the administration. Clubs and individual organizations across campus that work to support students will be more vital than ever. Groups that provide safe spaces, mentorship and a platform for voices that may otherwise go unheard will be essential to supporting women on campus. By uplifting the work of these organizations, our community can continue to champion women’s rights and well-being.
In the broader conversation of inequity, we must not overlook the pink tax. The additional financial burden placed on women through higher costs for everyday products is an injustice that demands our attention. Our campus can serve as a model for addressing this disparity by subsidizing menstrual products and discounting essential items — or it can continue the status quo and allow women to suffer as a result.
Real progress happens when institutional support and grassroots efforts work hand in hand. By prioritizing transparency, empowering student organizations and developing innovative solutions to tackle economic injustice on campus, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment at Tech.
Women pay more for everyday essentials — not because the products are better or significantly different, but because they are marketed towards women. This is known as the “pink tax,” a price disparity that quietly inflates the cost of everyday items like razors, deodorant and hygiene products up to 13% higher for women. While not an official tax, it functions as one, forcing women to pay more for basic necessities.
The pink tax adds another unnecessary financial strain for college students who already face rising costs and tight budgets. Some states, such as California and Illinois, require public colleges to provide free feminine hygiene products. In 2023, Georgia provided $1.45 million in funding for period products in public schools in grades 5 through 12. However, the state did not provide funding or requirements for women’s hygiene products in public colleges. Georgia also still levies a “tampon tax,” applying a 4% sales tax on all menstrual hygiene products, furthering the economic burden of having a period. With the lack of support from the state, women must front the cost, sometimes relying on individual action by schools and organizations to address the pink tax.
Here at Tech, in the spring of 2020 the Menstrual Product Program, co-piloted by the Student Government Association (SGA) and Center for the Study of Women, Science and Technology, began providing access to free period products in restrooms across campus. The program was a significant step towards lowering costs for women at Tech. However, there is more work to do. Many women report inconsistent availability of menstrual products in restrooms on campus. The Institute should stock these products as regularly as paper towels or toilet paper. Programs so essential to student well-being should carry the full support of the Institute, and it is time for Tech to implement and administer a campus-wide free menstrual product policy in addition to SGA’s efforts.
Free products are not the only solution to addressing the pink tax on campus. Tech has the opportunity to develop new solutions to tackle disparities in pricing and access to hygiene products. In stores and markets on campus, the Institute could equalize the cost of all gendered items, not just on period products, but on deodorant, razors and all other sorts of goods that are often more expensive solely because they are intended for women. There is no reason why a woman should be paying more for a product virtually identical to a male-targeted item. By simply reducing the price of the goods Tech sells, they could fight the pink tax and mitigate the financial injustice female students face.
With the closure of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC) earlier this month, it is essential to ask who will work to address women’s issues on campus. The WRC was the centralized organization that could have addressed issues like financial burdens for female students or access to period products in campus bathrooms. In fact, the WRC hosted meetings for female students to discuss financial wellness. The center provided a space to build women leaders, address violence against women and highlight the achievements of women on campus. In the wake of its sudden dissolution, students are left wondering where to turn and how to access the resources that are still available.
The administration’s commitment to providing resources to help women on campus and communicate those resources to the student body must continue. Students should never feel lost or in the dark about how to find help on campus. By clearly outlining the support systems still available and how students can utilize them, the administration can reaffirm its commitment to ensuring the success and well-being of all students on campus. Regardless of which new program or facility Tech charges with continuing the mission of women’s well-being on campus, students deserve to know where to turn.
This burden of advocacy cannot solely fall on the administration. Clubs and individual organizations across campus that work to support students will be more vital than ever. Groups that provide safe spaces, mentorship and a platform for voices that may otherwise go unheard will be essential to supporting women on campus. By uplifting the work of these organizations, our community can continue to champion women’s rights and well-being.
In the broader conversation of inequity, we must not overlook the pink tax. The additional financial burden placed on women through higher costs for everyday products is an injustice that demands our attention. Our campus can serve as a model by addressing this disparity by subsidizing menstrual products and discounting essential items — or it can continue to linger and allow women to suffer as a result.
Real progress happens when institutional support and grassroots efforts work hand in hand. By prioritizing transparency, empowering student organizations and developing innovative solutions to tackle economic injustice on campus, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment at Tech.