Girl Is Confused About Why Female Clothes Cost More On Animal Crossing, Asks Nintendo For An Explanation

The pink tax is everywhere. As a female consumer, I am well aware of the fact that products marketed towards me are more expensive than those marketed for men. This upcharge is not only frustrating, it breeds the already notorious gender inequality. Worst, it starts from an early age when children are not yet familiar with the complex societal problems waiting ahead.

One 7-year-old girl has experienced it firsthand while playing the game Animal Crossing on Nintendo Switch. But when it was time to purchase a new outfit, the girl was confused by the fact it cost more than her brother’s. She asked her mom Ashley, the author of the mindful parenting blog “Raising Brain,” who had no proper answer to that.

And it’s when the 7-year-old took matters into her own hands and decided to pen a letter to the megacorporation itself. Read the full story below that proves just how much awareness one small note from one small person can create!

Bored Panda contacted Ashley Bobst, mom of the incredibly bright 7-year-old Oakley who wrote her viral letter to Nintendo. Ashley told us that “Oakley is a very strong-minded young lady who is very aware and empathetic to the social issues we share with her and allow her exposure to. She has a keen eye for injustice and isn't afraid to point it out, as my husband and I are very outspoken about things that we see as not being right.”

“As parents we tend to take the Socratic approach when they ask about something that they don't think is right and instead of influencing their view points, we ask them questions such as, 'Do you think this is fair, why or why not?' and then we always ask 'What would you like to do about this?’”

Mom Ashley, who’s a nurse by trade, said she’s “fortunate to be able to stay home and homeschool my two children, 9 and 7. I volunteer from home on my own to help connect people in our community with resources via Facebook community pages and working with our local Social Services Department and Food Pantries. My children see me doing this, and naturally inquire as to how they can help.”

Ashley feels that “giving them the opportunity to live in and be involved in our society naturally from a young age will provide them with an education unlike any institutionalized environment.” She’s also “a firm believer of behavioral modeling when setting the foundation for communication and education; children will naturally follow a trusted person's lead.”

When asked about how big of a problem the pink tax is, Ashley said that it’s surely a big issue and seemingly unavoidable anywhere. “We have run into this issue with something as simple as basic colored t-shirts needed for a play, my son's was cheaper than the girl's version of the same concept. For myself, things like razors, shampoos, etc. have always stood out to me,” the mom and mindful parenting blog author concluded.

To find out more about the pink tax and how it affects women, Bored Panda reached out to Angie, the founder and owner of “Blue Tax Body + Care.” It is a mission-first business committed to raising awareness and money to stand up to the pink tax. All of their products include a 13% blue tax which is donated each month to a different organization working for gender equity.

Angie explained that the pink tax is a tremendous problem “for any woman who doesn't want to pay an extra $1351 on average for products she uses that are comparable to similar men's products. And it is a big problem for any man who believes in equal rights for women.”

Yet, “the problem becomes even bigger when you consider that women are still paid, on average, $.82 for every $1.00 men make. Women make less money and pay more at the register. That's a big problem if we want to live in an equitable society,” Angie explained.

According to Angie, the most atrocious thing about the pink tax is that it is not obvious. “Companies charge more for women's products because they are getting away with it and it increases their profits. Most people aren't aware that the pink tax exists, but once you start looking for it, you will find it everywhere, from cradle to grave: pacifiers, toys, school supplies, personal care products, nonprescription medicines, and the list goes on and on. And that is just considering the classic pink tax.”

Meanwhile, “when you consider women also need to purchase feminine hygiene products that are taxed as luxury items in most states and are bombarded by a cosmetic industry that tells them they need their products to feel good about themselves, women are shelling out a lot of money just because they are women. It shouldn't cost more to be a woman.”

The good news is that there are many ways people can stand up to the pink tax, “you just have to find what feels right for you,” Angie said. “On a personal level, you can refuse to purchase products that cost more for women, purchase products that are blue but do the same job, or purchase products from businesses that pledge gender-neutral pricing. In our capitalist society, where you choose to spend your dollars matters.”

But if you want to make a broader impact, Angie suggests writing to companies that are engaging in gender-based price discrimination, writing to your legislators, signing petitions, talking about the pink tax with people you know in person or on social media. “If you want to go all in, start a business whose mission is to pay back the pink tax like I did with Blue Tax Body + Care,” she concluded.

The story of a 7-year-old challenging the pink tax aligns with another remarkable story of youthful determination and awareness. Just as Oakley spotted and took action against gender inequality, another young girl named Chloe wrote to a tech giant with her dreams of working for them one day.

These acts exemplify the powerful impact that children's voices can have when they choose to address the world's issues.