THE so-called “pink tax” even applies in prison, with male and female inmates paying different prices for basics such as shampoo, razors and toiletries, it has emerged.
Research last year highlighted women paying up to 37 per cent more than men do for similar items on the high street.
Now prisons chief inspector David Strang has highlighted that the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) also appears to discriminate against women inmates, charging them more for essential items.
He said the issue had only emerged because of the transfer of women from Cornton Vale during a redevelopment of the women’s prison. About 100 female prisoners were moved to Polmont Young Offenders Institute (YOI) last August, ahead of the planned work on Cornton Vale which will see its capacity reduced.
An inspection report on HMP/YOI Polmont, published today, says: “There were concerns raised about the lack of affordable toiletries for women on the canteen list, with, for example, shampoo and conditioner for men available at a lower cost than the equivalent products for women”.
Prisoners can spend money brought in by family or friends, or from wages earned through work behind bars. Mr Strang said differentials for toiletries and items such as razor blades had emerged when women saw the “canteen sheet” with which items are ordered.
“Women in Cornton Vale, wouldn’t particularly see what was available to the young men. But when they got to Polmont they noticed the prices were very different,” he said.
Sam Smethers, chief executive of the women’s equality charity The Fawcett Society – which exposed the “pink tax” in a report last year – said women prisoners were already disadvantaged and argued the SPS should take a lead in ending price discrimination.
“Women in prison already have a raw deal,” she said. “Most are in prison serving ineffective short sentences for non-violent offences, usually far from home.
“On top of this, it is unacceptable the sexist pricing Fawcett’s research has uncovered in supermarkets has found its way into prisons. It would be great to see the SPS lead the way and reform the Scottish women’s prison system.”
A spokesman for the SPS said any price differences were likely to be reflective of the cost of products from suppliers and pointed out that women prisoners have the option of buying the lower priced “male” products. A new policy last year harmonised “canteen” prices across the prison estate, he said: “Part of the rationale of having a list is to ensure people are charged the same, but there will be variations between specific brands.”
He welcomed the overall findings of the inspection report which concludes relations between staff and prisoners of both sexes are good, and the arrival of women at Polmont had not had a detrimental impact on the regime and opportunities for them or the young men.
Accommodation for women prisoners is more modern than that at Cornton Vale, it said.
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