By Bob Katzen

Another bill heard by the Judiciary Committee would establish a working group on gender equity to investigate the price differentiations between products marketed to males versus those marketed to females.

Supporters said this so-called “pink tax” refers to a markup on goods and services marketed to women in which men pay less for similar or even identical products and services. They said price discrimination, especially when based on gender, is unjust and should not be tolerated. Everyday transactions, including purchases for jeans, haircuts, children’s toys and hundreds of other products, are marked up for women.

“The price of similar goods and services offered to men and women suffers from an embedded disparity along gendered lines,” said sponsor Rep. Jay Livingston (D-Boston). “I have proposed this legislation to start a commission that will examine potential solutions that will address this pricing discrimination issue.”