Squamish is a pretty progressive place.
We are sensitive to changes in gender politics and culture: we celebrate diversity and, except for the topics of dogs and liquefied natural gas, seem to have a “live and let live” hippie vibe about us.
We have a host of powerful women in key positions. In fact, because I imagine it doesn’t even register on most people’s radar’s as unique, I feel silly even mentioning that we have a female mayor and two councillors, a female staff sergeant with the RCMP, a female Squamish Chamber of Commerce executive director and a female Squamish Terminals president.
We’re quirky, uniquely outdoorsy and wear fancy gumboots as work attire.
All this is why it is shocking that the “pink tax” – extra fees charged for the same products for women versus men – is alive and well in Squamish.
Several of Squamish’s most popular hair salons charge more, at times much more, for women’s cuts and other services than they do for men.
This pink tax has long frustrated me. My husband came of age in the ’80s and retains his hairband-style long hair. (Think early Jon Bon Jovi hair.)
My sons too often sport long and luscious locks.
Mine is mousy, short and annoyingly thin like a baby’s hair.
And yet — I pay about $20 more for a cut and about $40 more for highlights.
Perhaps, historically this difference in price is related to complexity of styles?
But then why do women also pay more for dry cleaning, personal care products and even mortgages, according to MarketWatch.
Thus, the issue seems more an overall entrenched sexism and greed than any real difference in product.
Can’t we move past gender bias in our Squamish salons?
It seems to me we can.
An Ontario salon, Hair Junkie, recently announced it is going gender neutral with its pricing. Customers will pay according to the time the service takes and products used, not according to gender.
“Prices are neutral because hair has no gender. We are so proud to be initiating this policy,” the salon recently stated on its Instagram feed.
Makes sense.
It has been a boon for the salon too, which has gotten a spectacular and shocking amount of press from the switch.
Come on Squamish salons, time to step up.
