The ‘women’s safety tax’ is not a government policy—it is a hidden penalty paid daily. From safer transport to costly housing, women spend more just to exist in public.
Clothing, shoes, and cosmetics designed for women often come with a higher price tag. Take razors, for example. Add pink packaging and a “for women” label, and the price goes up compared to neutral-coloured ones. This common practice, known as the pink tax, is gender-based pricing that places an additional financial burden on women.
(To understand more about the pink tax, check out our article here.)
While many recognise the pink tax, fewer people talk about the safety tax, which is another hidden cost of being a woman. Much like the pink tax, this is not an official government-imposed tax. Instead, it is the price women pay just to feel safe.
What is the women’s safety tax?
Women constantly adjust their routines to stay safe. Taking longer routes home, leaving before dark, paying for private taxis, signing up for self-defense classes, or subscribing to “safety” apps. All these precautions come at a cost. This extra price women pay to move freely and carry out their daily and professional lives is known as the Women’s Safety Tax.
Telling women to carry pepper spray, buy safety devices, or take self-defense classes sounds easy. But none of these come for free. Have you ever thought about that? The women’s safety tax unfairly falls on one gender. Instead of making public spaces safer, society shifts the burden to women, forcing them to pay for security, which should be a fundamental right.
Women pay more for security
A survey of 1,000 girls and young women in the UK aged 14 to 21 revealed that 62% take taxis home at least once a month to avoid the risks of walking or using public transport. These risks include harassment and violence. The extra expense feels less like a choice and more like a necessity. On average, they spend £44 a month, which adds up to £528 a year. For more than one in six respondents, that number exceeds £900 annually.
Accommodation is another area where women pay extra for security. Women-only PGs and hostels often cost more than men’s accommodations. Why? Because they offer additional security features such as CCTV cameras, better locks, secure windows, and restricted entry. While these measures are necessary, they also make safe housing less affordable. For women who live alone, finding a secure apartment in a safer neighborhood means paying higher rent.
How women pay with time, energy, and money
Women’s safety tax has a significant negative impact on a woman’s time, energy, and financial freedom.
Loss of time
Women often adjust their schedules to avoid risks, leaving early to reach home before dark, taking longer routes to avoid unsafe areas, or waiting for a safer transportation option instead of the quickest one. These extra precautions cost valuable time that they could have spent on work, rest, or personal activities.
Mentally and physically draining
The constant vigilance required to stay safe is mentally and physically exhausting. Women plan their movements carefully, remain on high alert in public spaces, and take on the emotional burden of assessing potential threats.
Financial strain
Safety has a price, and women are expected to pay it. These are not one-time purchases but ongoing expenses that add up over months and years. The money spent on safety measures could have gone into savings, investments, or skill-building.
Women’s safety tax and pay gap: A cycle of financial disadvantage
Women already earn significantly less than men. In India, for every ₹100 a man earns, a woman earns only ₹40. Globally, women earn $0.83 for every $1 men earn when factors like job role, experience, and education are not considered. Even when we account for these factors, the gap remains, with women making $0.99 for every $1 men earn.
The gender pay gap already puts women at a disadvantage. Now, add the hidden safety tax on top of this. It creates a cycle of financial disadvantage where women continue to face economic inequality. Since women keep spending more on security while earning less, they remain financially dependent on families, partners, or lower-paying jobs.
Many women turn down better job opportunities if the workplace is in an unsafe location or requires late working hours. If a job demands frequent travel or late-night shifts, they may decline the offer because the cost of ensuring personal safety outweighs the financial benefits. It means that fewer women reach leadership positions or high-paying roles.
Until society addresses both the pay gap and the hidden costs of safety, women will continue to be economically disadvantaged.
The final thoughts on the women’s safety tax
Women’s safety tax is a systemic issue that affects their financial independence, career choices, and overall well-being. The responsibility for safety should not fall on women alone. Society must focus on making public spaces, workplaces, and transport systems safer for everyone. This requires changes in urban planning, law enforcement, workplace policies, and cultural attitudes toward gender-based violence.
The Changeincontent perspective
At Changeincontent, we believe that safety should not be a luxury item women are expected to purchase. The women’s safety tax is a mirror held up to a society that has normalised gendered fear. If we genuinely care about equality, we must stop passing the bill to those most at risk. This is not about pepper sprays and panic buttons. It is about shifting the burden back to the system that failed to protect in the first place.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content. We broadly define inclusivity as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and marginalised individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
