When Sexism Is Economically Justified

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A quick correction:

The article states that women are "safer drivers" and therefore pay less for insurance. This isn't exactly true. Women pay lower insurance rates because they drive less, not because they are better at avoiding accidents.

On a per-mile basis, adult women get in slightly more accidents than adult men; but adult men drive much more than adult women. On average, a husband is much more likely to drive than a wife when both are in the car together, for example.

But because men spend more time behind the wheel, they get into more total accidents, but roughly the same amount (or slightly less) on a per-mile basis.

Roger of AL 11:04AM March 22, 2012

If you've never seen the Cosmetics Cop at http://www.beautypedia.com/BestProducts.aspx

you should check her out. I love her recommendations and her suggestions that there are great products at every price range. I have a $4 face soap she recommended and it is great! She also recommended sun screen years before it was all the talk. So, I have very good skin thanks to that advice:)

Btw, I don't think dry cleaners would go out of business if a law was enacted that forced similar pricing. I think they would just make men's shirts more expensive.

Emily of GA 7:33PM March 21, 2012

Thanks for your comment, Heather. The Jezebel article explains that men's shirts fit in the machines while women's must be done by hand. Strange, perhaps, but apparently true.

Kim Palmer of DC 6:06PM March 21, 2012

I don't buy the dry cleaning argument. The shirts are cleaned in the dry cleaning machines whether they belong to a man or a woman. What is the difference? I find men's shirts harder to iron, especially the shoulders and cuffs. If the pressing machine fits for a man's small shirt why wouldn't it fit for a woman's?

I linked to the Jezebel article and did not see where they acknowledged what you say.

Heather of NC 5:53PM March 21, 2012

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Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about making smarter financial decisions. She’s the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back.

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