Does it really cost more to be a woman? You’ll pay on average about 13% more for personal care products marketed towards women. Does it raise your eyebrows just a tiny bit that tampons are subject to a luxury tax in the US but condoms are not? Menstrual cycles are a monthly reality for women for an average of 40 years. Another curiosity is that Viagra and condoms are eligible for reimbursement with a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA). But tampons are not. A 1994 gender pricing study estimated that women paid an extra $1350 every year for personal care products and services like haircuts and dry cleaning. And that was 25 years ago. Just for fun, ask a man about how much it would cost to replace his toiletries bag if he lost it on a trip. Ask a woman the same question. Send me a note and let me know if you think the pink tax is real.