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Is proposed 5% cosmetic medicine tax sexist?
November 23rd, 2009, 5:00 pm · 27 Comments · posted by Colin Stewart
A burden of a proposed 5 percent tax on cosmetic medical procedures would fall mostly on women, since nearly 90 percent of plastic surgery patients are female.
But does that make the proposal discriminatory? Many doctors say it does.
“A cosmetic surgery tax would discriminate against women,” said optometrist Dr. Laura Reed of Garden Grove, who specializes in applying permanently tattooed makeup and removing inexpectly applied permanent makeup. “Many cosmetic procedures are not performed for reasons of vanity alone.”
The tax proposal is included in the Senate version of health-care reform legislation, which was unveiled Nov. 18 by U.S. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid (pictured). Supporters say the tax is needed to help make the overall bill affordable.
The tax would cover cosmetic surgery and injections such as Botox, which has earned it the nickname “Bo-tax.”
“Elective surgery taxes discriminate against women, given that 86 percent of cosmetic surgery patients are female, of which 91 percent are between the working ages of 19-64,” said Dr. Michael McGuire, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. “Moreover, contrary to popular belief, cosmetic surgery is no longer an exclusive luxury afforded by the very wealthy, but rather a mainstream and reasonable option most common amongst the working middle-class.”
“This tax is effectively a ‘Soccer Mom’ tax that will adversely impact mainstream American wives and mothers, who are the majority of plastic surgery patients,” said Dr. Renato Saltz, president of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
Is the proposal sexist? Some women’s advocates think so. Plastic surgery is often women’s response to social pressure, said Jill Filipovic, writing on the AlterNet.org Web site, which focuses on issues such as environmental and social justice:
While they’re generally cast as simple vanity procedures, the fact is that women are under extreme pressure to maintain a particular physical appearance — to look young, thin and attractive. … It seems a little unfair that women are inundated with messages that we need to constantly improve our physical appearance, and then taxed when we take steps to do just that.
“It’s one of those classic sexist double binds: Society tells you that you have to look perfect and then sticks you with a ’sin’ tax when you do what’s expected of you. If you tax cosmetic surgery, boob jobs will titillate men and subsidize their health care,” writes journalist Lindsay Beyerstein
What do you think?
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27 Comments
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There’s a tax on cigars, yet 90% of cigar smokers are male. Give me a break, this is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.
Same as people that CHOOSE to smoke this is an elective procedure.
No its not sexist! Tons of men get botox. I think its a great tax! IF you’ve got money to waste on fighting nature then that’s a luxury and I’m all for luxury taxes!
Not sexist at all. Tax the ‘toxers.
Yep! lol
Cigar taxes make sense because the harm you are doing to your health costs society as a whole. Tax the junk food for the same reasons as the cigar tax.
What would you rather see, a hot mama or a fat mama? If plastic surgery was a desire of mine, 5% price increase wouldn’t change my mind.
How is this sexist???? men get this dumb cosmetic surgery as well. it sounds like another old crow is using the “sexist” card because shes upset about paying more for botox… mud is free you know, slap some of that crap on yoru face and see if it helps
I object to any new taxes until the legislators stop spending on themselves and the bloated government.
What about a tax on pimple medicine, and Hair coloring, Hair cuts, Tanning salons, high healed shoes, purses over $20, perfume, nail salons, facial waxing, tattoos, body piercing, eye makeup. lipstick, etc. etc. etc. The public voted for what they thought was a moderate Democrat and what they got was a radical left, tax and spend socialist. All these new taxes and we are more broke than ever, and our standard of living continues to plunge. Just once, stop and ask yourself, are we better off as as a society with all these taxes that are trying to socially engineer our society?
Why don’t they cut spending instead of finding new ways to take money from the hard working citizens? Pathetic!
Yeah, those OC Housewives are such hard-working citizens.
They’re not the only ones getting botox. Besides, that’s not the point! What’s next, a tax on blogging? Or a tax for the time you’re logged onto the internet?
John McCain is working on a bill as you speak.
The funniest/scariest tax was when they wanted to put as sales tax on the tax services industry. WOW, you pay taxes to pay taxes!!
Most of the women around here getting Botox are pretty much plastic carbon copies of each other.
Tax it - maybe people would think twice before injecting themselves with that junk and making them look all shiney and obviously deluded about their age!
Let’s stop finding new things to tax and start living within our budgetary means.
I know that is a concept that is far beyond our current politician’s comprehension, but this question just raises the bigger issue that greed has infected all areas of society.
If I have to live within my means, so should the government.
This is an elective procedure. It is no different than taxing beer, bourbon or tobacco. You choose to smoke or drink and have to pay for that. You choose to have surgery or procedures because you are vain then pay for that.
Will people who really need it be taxed as well? I’m talking about burn victoms or children with clevs or breast cancer victoms who have to get theirs removed.
It is not “sexist,” but it is “elitist,” going after those in the higher income brackets that can typically afford such things.
I am so sick of these politicians sitting around thinking new ways to find a new artery to gloat themselves on. Get rid of the illegals and the coffers would be full.
If you honestly think that a frozen stiff face is beauty, I doubt that your critical thinking skills will spend much time worrying about taxation.
Do you honestly think that most of those who use Botox are going to think about something like taxes ? I would be willing to guess that most users are more concerned with the latest shoe sales, and their next salon appointment, not anything financial.
Nancy Pelosi is the Speaker of the House and she doesn’t want to pay any bo-tax. On the other hand, maybe she should recommend some good cosmetic surgeons to some of the male monstrosities in her party like Henry Waxman, Barney Frank and, pictured above, Harry Reid.
Nope. I wholeheartedly support this tax! it’s not elitist. Trust me, true wealthy people do not waste their money on crap like Botox. It’s the people with fake (ie borrowed) wealth that do that. Then they look like freaks.
it doesn’t just discriminate against women, but rich, white, women. and strippers too. print up the bumper stickers now: “i have fake boobs, and i VOTE!” or “Bo-Tax makes me frown (if i could…)”
I support this tax.