Furthermore, most contraceptives are female-based, and women often end up bearing the brunt of the financial burden for birth control. Women also buy two-thirds of prescribed tranquilizers and sedatives. Doctors say that women are more likely than men to request mood-altering drugs. Two exceptions to the rule that women pay more are in automotive and life insurance. Young men traditionally pay more for car insurance because their driving records are, on average, worse than women's.
Men also pay the price for their shorter life expectancy.
For those who wait until age 50 to buy life insurance, the price differences are even more striking. Some states are advocating legislation to alleviate gender-bias pricing. California, Massachusetts, and New York have already passed laws. But even when laws are in place, they are hard to enforce. The Massachusetts Attorney General's office sent surveys to dry cleaners to ascertain prices for men's and women's shirts.