Pittsburgh Pop-Up Shop Charges Men More Than Women

— -- Pay what you're paid.

That's the pricing model behind a new traveling pop-up shop called Less Than 100, which seeks to shine a light on wage inequality. The inaugural Pittsburgh outpost, launched by artist Elana Schlenker, has been charging men full price all month. But women paid just 76 percent of the price for all items, a number that reflects what the American Association of University Women (AAUW) reports is the average gender wage gap in Pennsylvania, where it says women on average earn 76 percent of what men earn.

"Clearly, 76 is really oversimplified, and when you look at profession, age or race, it’s worse or better," said Schlenker of the shop's pricing system. "But this is something that we’re discussing a lot in the store. Depending upon who you talk to, there are a lot of different opinions on what the impact of the wage gap can be."

A Pennsylvania native who splits her time between Pittsburgh and her artist's studio in Brooklyn, N.Y., Schlenker's inspiration for the shop was to create a space where the gender wage gap was tangible and could spark such dialogue.

"I was surprised by how many men who came in, who I thought might take issue with it, responded positively and by talking about the women in their lives who had supported them," Schlenker said. "[Their experiences] made them want to participate and support this project. So hearing those types of stories has been nice."

Items in the shop range in cost from $1 to $300, with a large number priced at less than $20. The stock includes original artworks and prints, ceramics, textiles, books and magazines, personal care products, packaged food and accessories.

But what all have in common is that they are produced by local female artists.

"It was really important that this be a positive space," said Schlenker, who added that the timing of the pop-up was meant to coincide with regional events that connected and empowered women. "We offered scale-building events, panels with small business owners, and I wanted to provide real tools and resources rather than just complaining that this is a problem and not really doing anything about it."