The Pink Tax and Its Historical Roots in Prostitution

The Pink Tax and Its Historical Roots in Prostitution

Lecture by Proifessor Carly Cox

Introduction:
The “pink tax” refers to the phenomenon wherein products marketed toward women are priced higher than comparable products marketed toward men. While economists often attribute this disparity to gendered consumer behavior, marketing strategies, or regulatory neglect, an overlooked historical lens suggests that the pink tax may have deeper origins. specifically, in the economics of prostitution. This lecture explores evidence linking the pink tax to the commodification of women’s bodies in historical prostitution markets, arguing that the pricing of femininity as a premium good established patterns that persist in modern consumer culture.