Study finds women's products are priced higher than similar ones for men

$24.99 for boys vs. $49.99 for girls : A provocative study conducted by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that products for female consumers were generally priced higher than similar ones geared to males. In this example, a red Radio Flyer costs $24.99, while the same product in pink is going for $49.99. less $24.99 for boys vs. $49.99 for girls : A provocative study conducted by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that products for female consumers were generally priced higher than similar ones ... more Photo: Govt. Handout/NYC Dept. Consumer Affairs Photo: Govt. Handout/NYC Dept. Consumer Affairs Image 1 of / 19 Caption Close Study finds women's products are priced higher than similar ones for men 1 / 19 Back to Gallery

Ladies, it's time to start buying blue razors.

In many cases, those pink blades that promise to make a woman's legs silky probably aren't much different than the ones a few steps down the aisle that claim to make a man's face smooth—except the girlie razors probably cost more.

A provocative study conducted by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that products marketed to women were generally priced higher than similar ones geared to men. Female shoppers are often paying what's called a "gender tax."

The research team compared prices on nearly 800 products with male and female versions (of similar quality) at two dozen stores, both online and brick-and-mortar, around Manhattan. Products fell into 35 categories and five industries: toys and accessories, children's clothing, adult clothing, personal care and senior/home/healthcare.

On average, women's items were priced 7 percent higher than those for men. Discrepancies were greatest among personal care products, with women's costing 13 percent more than men's on average.

While the examples all came from New York, the researchers looked at products from big-name, national retailers such as Target, CVS, Kmart, Gap, Carters and Abercrombie & Fitch, and one can only assume this is an issue in all parts of the country.

This news likely isn't surprising. The business world is notorious for taking advantage of women. It's well known that men's salaries are on average higher than women's. And with many of these products, companies are obviously charging more for female versions of products because they know women will pay higher prices for them. Let's face it, on average, a woman is more likely to pay big bucks for a bottle of shampoo for a man.

But when you see the actual numbers and look at examples included in the report and highlighted in the gallery above, the reality is disturbing.

A red Radio Flyer scooter cost $24.99 while the exact same toy in pink was $49.99? That's 100 percent more. A pair of 501 CT Levi's Jeans for men were advertised as $68, and the same cut for women was priced at $88? That's $20 more.

The moral of this story is that if you want a pair of baggy jeans, don't buy the "boyfriend" style marketed to women, just go pick up a pair of men's jeans.