Study reveals women charged more than men at UK high street retailers
20 Jan 2016
A new study in the UK has demonstrated that women are overcharged at high street shops.
A Mirror Money report a year ago revealed that there were a string of products where attaching the words ''for women'' or changing the colour to pink meant a huge increase in price.
Disposable razors for women at Tesco were found to be priced double that for men where the only difference was the colour, while scooters for children were found to be £5 cheaper at Argos than the same model in pink.
Other examples included Bic ''For Her'' pens, 100ml of Chanel's Allure spray at Boots (£30 for women, £23.50 for men).
A study conducted by The Times revealed that overall products targeted at women were 37 per cent more expensive than similar products aimed at men.
The only instance of cheaper female versions was girl's underpants compared to boys'.
"It is unacceptable that women face higher costs for the same products just because they are targeted at women," Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee in the House of Commons, told The Times.
"Retailers have got to explain why they do this. At a time when we should be moving towards a more de-gendered society, retailers are out of step with public opinion."
An analysis revealed that women's clothes, toys, and beauty items were on average 37 per cent more expensive.
"It's an excellent piece of research and it's something which the committee will be considering whether we should take further.
"This is just the sort of thing the Women and Equalities Select Committee can consider and make sure that in this instance retailers are made to account for what appears to be price discrimination based on sex."
Miller added, "I think many women will understand the point that is being made, particularly when it comes to clothing and toiletries.
"Sometimes the difference in price is noticeable, but I think an independent piece of research like this, an investigative piece of journalism, has really shone a spotlight on how widespread this problem appears to be," she said.
