When going back and forth about what the cost of being a woman is, I think far beyond monetary reasons. Besides being subjected to the pink tax, I think about the role we play in society today. In many ways it’s great to be a woman living in 2018, there's no doubt about that. The women who came before us won so many victories and reached so many milestones. And now more than ever, women’s empowerment is on the rise with popular movements such as the Women’s March, #MeToo, and #TimesUp.

But unfortunately, disparities among the sexes still are alive and well.

Unless you’re living under a rock, you’re most likely aware of the pricing differences between women’s and men’s products. From children’s toys, personal care products, health care and (almost) everything between, the pink tax follows women from birth until our dying day. There’s no justifiable reason for it although some may argue it’s existence.

PromoCodesForYou recently compared an identical group of the most popular products for men and women and found that women would spend $453.87 more for them. A razor that would cost a man $8.31 would cost a woman a whopping $12.98. While there are no federal laws that ban gender discrimination on the sale of goods and services in the U.S., eight states have tax exempted feminine hygiene care products. Now, that’s a step in the right direction if you ask me.

There have been many situations in my life where my gut has told me I'm being taken advantage of as a woman. Up until now, I either didn’t believe it or was naively unaware. For example, going to the auto shop has and always been an uncomfortable experience for me. Not to my surprise, nine out of ten women feel they are treated differently than men at auto-repair shops.

I got my first car when I turned sixteen which was doomed the second I laid my hands on it. With its non-stop issues, anything that could go wrong with it usually did. With this new car came great responsibility, which meant I was in charge of getting the car fixed. The mechanics would diagnose the issue, and I'd usually get it fixed on the spot depending on the repair cost. I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t the most educated on all things cars.

After getting the runaround so many times, I felt as if I was being played. I was once told that my car would only last one more month if I didn’t get it fixed immediately. This proved to be untrue based on a second opinion I received elsewhere. Women shouldn’t have to be an expert on a topic to know when they are being taken advantage of, but unfortunately, today’s society is far from ethical and this exists in many industries.

I’ve learned the best thing to do about these situations is to stand up for what you believe in and be confident. No matter what you’re fighting for, whether you're up against John Doe from the auto-shop or the U.S. government, you can make a difference. Disparities among the sexes will always remain prevalent in society for our future female generations if we remain silent.