Discount For Women, Full Price For Men: Woman Opens Store To Make Point About Wage Gap
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A new store in Pittsburgh charges men more than women for the same items.
The owner knows she's discriminating against half the population, but says it's to make a very good point.
"It's tongue-in-cheek," said owner Elana Schlenker. "I don't really believe in discrimination. That's why I'm doing this."
There's art work, cups, bowls, pillows, books, even honey at her store in Garfield, and there are two sets of prices.
Women get a 24 percent discount on everything. Men, however, pay full price.
Schlenker, a graphic designer, calls the store "76 Is Less Than 100" because that's the current wage gap in Pennsylvania, according to U.S. Census Figures.
"The issue is that frankly, women don't get equal pay," said Kate Stoltzfus from Propelle, a group that promotes women owning businesses. "In Pennsylvania, they're paid 76 percent of what men are."
So at the store, women only have to pay 76 percent of the full prices.
Green stickers on items indicate the price for men. Blue stickers show the price for women.
"I feel kind of weird that I have to go into a store and pay more than somebody else might, but I think of so many other occasions when the opposite is true," said Nathan Shaulis of Swissvale, who was visiting the store.
The items in the store are also made by women, some of whom are local artists.
But you'd better hurry if you want to check it out because the store is only temporary.
It'll close next Thursday after being open for a month.
Schlenker plans on moving it to other cities. New Orleans is next, where it'll have a new name: 66 Is Less Than 100, because she says that's the wage gap there.
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