Sales tax, income tax, property tax a are very familiar to the American public, but a lesser known tax has overtaken the media lately: the Pink Tax. Only women are subject to it, paying on average eight percent more than men for comparable products. The Pink Tax is the term coined for this cost difference.

From services to clothing, products aimed toward women cost substantially more than those products aimed toward men. For example, Angie’s List estimates that a man’s haircut costs $28, where a woman’s costs a whopping $48. According to USA Today, women spend about 13 percent more than men on personal hygiene products monthly— and that’s excluding the cost of pads and tampons. Even children have been subject to the Pink Tax, with girls toys costing seven percent more than boys toys.

Aside from the Pink Tax that women pay on comparable items, women in general have to pay for more than men. Women are expected to pay for period paraphernalia, makeup, bras and additional hair care products.

Of course, there are exceptions. While wearing makeup is a choice, there is a social expectation for women to wear makeup which drives their cost of living upward. Women could choose to use men’s products or use cheaper items to equalize average cost, but the fact remains that the Pink Tax drains women’s wallets and leaves men full-pocketed.

Some companies, such as Billie, are fighting the Pink Tax. Billie is a razor company that  sells products to women at a lower cost than other women’s razor companies, but most importantly, at a price comparable to men’s razor companies. Additionally, they offer a “Pink Tax Rebate,” which allows referrers to receive a discount on their purchase.

There are many different theories surrounding the cause of the Pink tax. According to CNN Money, services (like haircuts and dry cleaning) may cost more for women because those services are more labor intensive. However, the cost difference on comparable products, like razors and body sprays, can be attributed to gender bias.

The Pink Tax has been minimized by many (men), yet deserves recognition and solution. Ignoring that women pay more for the same products does not solve the problem, it simply amplifies the social concept that men are above women.