It’s official: you should buy the men’s version of almost anything. Why? The short answer is, it’ll save you A LOT money.
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An investigation comparing nearly 800 products with female and male versions — meaning they were identical except for the gender-specific packaging — found that products for women and girls were almost always more expensive.
That’s right, shops are overcharging just because you’re a woman.
The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that controlling for quality, items marketed to girls and women cost an average 7% more than similar products aimed at boys and men.
DCA Commissioner Julie Menin, who launched the investigation this summer, told The Washington Post that the overpricing is gender discrimination, adding that “it’s not just happening in New York. You see in the aisles the issue is clearly applicable to consumers across the country.”
According to Ian Ayres, an economist and professor at Yale Law School: “Companies might be exploiting the idea that female shoppers are willing to spend more money than their male counterparts.”
Scary.
So the next time you go shopping for shower gel and baby clothes, opt for male versions — your wallet will thank you for it.