Soho Pharmacy Charges 'Man Tax' to Make Statement About Gender Discrimination

SOHO, NEW YORK — Thompson Chemists, a neighborhood pharmacy that's been around for decades, on Columbus Day decided to charge men 7 percent more than women for their purchases in what they're calling a "man tax." The "man tax" is meant to raise awareness about gender discrimination, Jolie Alony, the pharmacy's owner, told Patch.

Women, on average, pay 7 percent more than men for the same kinds of products, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found in a study last year. This discrepancy is known as the "pink tax."

To Alony, the "pink tax" is far from fair. So on Monday, Thompson Chemists at 132 Thompson St. reversed the "pink tax" for its customers. Every male customer of the pharmacy had to pay a 7 percent tax, while every female customer didn't have to pay tax at all.

Customer reactions, Alony said, have been mixed.

"One guy that was shopping that I thought was gonna be really upset was actually really happy about it, and his girlfriend was really happy about it," Alony told Patch. "She said, 'he has more products in his bathroom than I do.' She thought it was great for him to feel this and know what it was like to pay more. She also makes less money than he does."

Others were frustrated. "When they're angry, they're saying stuff like, 'why do I have to pay?'" Alony said. "'Why doesn't my wife have to pay?' 'Why do I have to pay more money, this is sexist, this is ignorant, it's stupid, what are you trying to prove?'"

Thompson Chemists plans only to institute the "man tax" for Columbus Day, but it might consider extending it in the future. Alony is paying the difference herself of taxes she took off her female customers' bills.

"I think it's a fabulous way to show the men that we're equal, and that we deserve what they deserve," she said.

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