It Costs More To Be a Woman

Every year we test and calibrate low speed current meters for NOAA. On one such occasion a couple of women engineers from that agency joined the man normally responsible for certifying such devices. During a little down time in the work, one of the women was looking at a catalog of “bath products.” She announced to her friend that the company was offering a free carrying case with the purchase of seven bath products. They both seemed excited by the offer and started a little mental shopping spree. I asked how in the world one could purchase seven different bath products at one time. I was told it would be easy and the two women started reeling off the names of creams, moisturizers, conditioners, body splashes, and who knows what. The men working on the job just shook their heads in dismay. When they quizzed us, it was determined that the men on the job either used one bath product, bar soap or two bath products, bar soap and shampoo.

It does cost more to be a woman. I expect that most of the ladies reading this article would not just limit this statement to financial issues. Women pay more for haircuts. The reason given is that they have more hair, but does it take 25% longer to cut a woman’s hair? When I worked in a department store one summer during my college years, I learned that the markup on women’s clothing was much higher than the markup on men’s clothing. On average, women pay twice as much as men for clothing. Women also pay more for dry cleaning. The excuse, women’s clothing has more frills that require extra attention.

Numerous consumer investigations and exposes’ have proven what everyone already knows. There are far too many car dealers and auto repair shops that will charge women more for exactly the same products or service than they charge their male customers. In some instances the truly disreputable are more likely to charge women for unnecessary work. They don’t think that a man would be as gullible.

Women pay more for health insurance. This at least has some basis in fact. Women do cost the insurance companies more than men. Of course the cost associated with pregnancy and childbirth is the largest factor in this discrepancy. However, there is more. Women are overwhelmingly responsible for the cost of birth control. Women are twice as likely to require antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sedatives as men.

For reasons I can not comprehend, women pay more for mortgages and are 32% more likely to be sold subprime mortgages than men earning similar incomes. The subprime rate at the time of the report (December 17, 2009) was 7.66% while the average normal rate was 5.87%. Women are 41% more likely than men earning the same income to end up with high cost subprime loans at rates in excess of 9.66%. (M.P. Dunleavy) I guess this is the same assumption of gullibility at work in the retail automotive business. Women are also frequently charged more in rent for an identical apartment than men, sometimes significantly more. Women do get bargain prices on two products, life insurance and auto insurance. Women live longer than men and are less likely to engage in the sort of behavior that would result in wrapping their automobile around a tree.

Then there are cosmetics. My father was a research chemist. For a short time he was tasked with investigating some questions in cosmetic chemistry. His conclusions were that cosmetic chemists were the most cynical people he ever met. They believed that women would pay any price for any product no matter how ridiculous. He contends that if women knew what went into the stuff they were putting on their faces they would become ill. But let’s get back to those “bath products.”

The following information comes from Consumer Reports, quoted in an article by M.P. Dunleavey for MSN Money.

Identically sized bottles of Nivea Body Wash for Men $5.49, for women $7.49.

11 ounces of Barbasol Soothing Aloe shaving cream $1.69. The same product for women in a 9.5 ounce can, $2.49. The company claims the can for women has a rust resistant aluminum bottom on the can since women shave in the shower. It also has more fragrance than the product sold to men.

O.5 Ounces of Neutrogrena Hydrating Eye Reviver for men $10.00. The same identical product in the same container with a label identifying it as a product for women $15.00.

In summary Consumers’ Union found that women paid 50% more than men for shaving cream, antiperspirants, pain relievers, eye cream, body wash, and razors. In many instances these were identical products in different packages.

So there you have it. THEY are lying to you and THEY are manipulating you, but you already knew that. Jesus observed, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” While he wasn’t talking about shopping for mortgages or bath products, the advice is sound, especially if you are a woman. Men, well we have our own problems.

And now for the mandatory passage from Proverbs that even the most God fearing women dislike.

Proverbs 31: 10-31

[10] Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
[11] The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
[12] She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
[13] She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
[14] She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
[15] She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
[16] She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
[17] She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
[18] She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
[19] She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
[20] She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
[21] She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
[22] She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
[23] Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
[24] She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
[25] Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
[26] She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
[27] She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
[28] Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
[29] Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
[30] Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
[31] Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.