The idea of the “pink tax” has been debated for years. It’s the theory that women often end up paying more for products that are nearly identical to those marketed toward men. One woman says she encountered a clear case of it while shopping for a kids’ Nike hoodie at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
TikTok creator Mercedes Olson (@mercedesolson555) shared a video from inside the store after noticing a price difference between Nike hoodies in the kids’ section. Her clip has since pulled in more than 238,000 views.
What Was Different About the Boys’ and Girls’ Nike Hoodies?
“For anyone who doesn’t think ‘pink tax’ is a thing,” Mercedes writes in the caption. “@dickssportinggoods explain yourself please.”
In the video, she starts in the boys’ section. “OK, I’m at Dick’s and I was looking at their Nike hoodies,” she says, turning the camera around. She picks up a beige Nike hoodie labeled as a kids’ youth extra large. “This was over on the girls’ table and it’s $50,” she says, clearly showing the tag.
She says she walked over to the boys’ section to compare. “So I came around to the boys,” she explains, showing what looks like the same hoodie in the same size and color. “Same thing, kids’ extra large, $45.”
In the caption, Mercedes explains why the price difference bothers her so much. “Listen… I buy a crap ton of these hoodies, so $5 difference is huge to me!” she writes. “But also, like why the [expletive] is there a difference anyway? I will buy all boy/men clothing just to avoid this because it [expletive] me off.”
Commenters Share Theories
Not everyone in the comments agreed that this was an example of the pink tax. One commenter pointed to product details.
“They’re not the same and has nothing to do with boys/girls,” they wrote. “They’re both kids. FZ5579 vs FD3000. If you check the product numbers, the $50 is the oversized version of club fleece hoodie. More material equals higher cost. Hope this helps.”
Others used the video to share similar frustrations. “If you buy cast iron cookware from Walmart, check the price in housewares and then check in the camping section. Big price difference,” one person wrote.
Another added, “We make less per hour than them for the same work and are charged more than them for the same items. It’s embedded societal misogyny.”
“Is there ANY part of society left where girls are not punished for just being girls??
another person asked. “Jeez, this planet sucks.”
The Styles Aren’t Identical, But Placement Matters
Looking more closely, the two hoodies Mercedes filmed aren’t technically the same Nike style. The boys’ hoodie she picked up appears to be a Nike Sportswear Club Fleece hoodie, which Nike markets as unisex and shows both boys and girls wearing it in product photos. The hoodie Mercedes labeled as the girls’ is a slightly different model, also marketed as unisex.
That doesn’t mean Mercedes’ frustration is unfounded. In-store placement can influence how shoppers perceive products, especially when nearly identical items are split by gender and priced differently. With basics like hoodies and sweatshirts, differences between boys’ and girls’ designs are often minimal, which makes price gaps stand out more.
@mercedesolson555 Listen…..I buy a crap ton of these hoodies, so $5 difference is huge to me! But also, like why the fuck is their a difference anyway ?…….I will buy all boy/men clothing just to avoid this because it pisses me off. #pinktax #ladies #corporate @Dicks Sporting goods ♬ original sound – Mercedes Olson
Why The Pink Tax Conversation Keeps Coming Back
The frustration taps into a larger issue that’s been documented for decades.
Studies in the U.S. have found that women often pay more for gendered products, from personal care items to clothing and services like dry cleaning.
A landmark California study in the 1990s helped lead to the state’s Gender Tax Repeal Act of 1995, which aimed to prevent gender-based pricing. Later government research found that women’s personal care products were priced about 13% higher than similar men’s items. Other studies found girls’ toys cost more than boys’ versions, even when the products were nearly the same.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Nike and Dick’s Sporting Goods via email, and to Mercedes via TikTok messages for comment.
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