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Uber Expands “Women Preferences” Feature Nationwide Amid Safety Concerns and Legal Challenges
Uber has rolled out a new feature across the United States allowing women riders and drivers to match exclusively with other women, expanding a pilot program aimed at addressing safety concerns on its platform. The nationwide launch comes despite ongoing legal challenges alleging gender discrimination.
The new “Women Preferences” option gives female passengers the ability to request female drivers through the app. Passengers can opt for an alternative ride if wait times become excessive or reserve trips with women drivers in advance. A third option enables female users to set a general preference for women drivers, increasing the likelihood of such matches without guaranteeing them. Teen account users can also request women drivers.
On the driver side, women can adjust their app settings to prioritize female passengers, with the flexibility to toggle this preference off at any time. Currently, women make up approximately 20 percent of Uber’s driver workforce in the United States, though this percentage varies by city.
The nationwide expansion follows successful pilots in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Detroit last summer, before extending to 26 U.S. cities in November. Internationally, Uber first introduced a similar feature in Saudi Arabia in 2019 after the kingdom granted women the right to drive. The option now exists in 40 other countries, including Canada and Mexico.
The rollout faces legal scrutiny in California, where two male Uber drivers filed a class-action lawsuit in November. They argue the feature violates California’s Unruh Act, which prohibits sex discrimination by businesses, claiming it potentially gives female drivers access to a wider passenger pool and “reinforces the gender stereotype that men are more dangerous than women.”
Uber has responded with a motion to compel arbitration, citing agreements the plaintiffs signed when joining as drivers. In its defense, the company maintains the feature “serves a strong and recognized public policy interest in enhancing safety” and doesn’t violate anti-discrimination laws.
Legal expert Ann Olivarius, co-founder of law firm McAllister Olivarius and specialist in sex discrimination cases, believes both Uber and Lyft have strong defenses against discrimination claims. “Lowering a client’s risk of rape—is that a business necessity? I would argue that it is a business necessity,” Olivarius stated.
The feature addresses a troubling history of safety incidents on ride-sharing platforms. Both Uber and Lyft have faced thousands of sexual assault reports from passengers and drivers over the years. In February, a federal jury found Uber legally responsible in a 2023 sexual assault case, ordering the company to pay $8.5 million to an Arizona woman who reported being raped by a driver.
While Uber maintains that drivers are independent contractors, limiting its liability for their misconduct, the company has implemented various safety measures, including collaborating with Lyft in 2021 to create a database of drivers removed for sexual assault and other serious complaints.
Female drivers like Melody Flores, a 41-year-old single mother who drives overnight in San Francisco, have embraced the feature. Flores reports that she almost exclusively uses the Women Preference option after previously dealing with intoxicated male passengers making inappropriate comments. She now primarily transports women leaving late shifts at hospitals or restaurants, noting that business has increased as she feels more comfortable driving in previously concerning neighborhoods.
However, industry observers express skepticism about the feature’s practical effectiveness. Sergio Avedian, a contributor to The RideShare Guy blog who drives for both Uber and Lyft, questions whether riders will tolerate longer wait times to secure female drivers, especially during late-night hours when women drivers are scarce. “Are you going to sit there in front of the bar and wait an extra 20 minutes to get matched to a woman?” Avedian asked.
Unlike Lyft’s similar “Women+Connect” feature, Uber’s offering doesn’t accommodate nonbinary individuals. For drivers, eligibility is based on the gender listed on their driver’s license, potentially limiting access for transgender women depending on state policies regarding gender identification changes on official documents.
Uber hopes the Women Preferences option will attract more female drivers to its platform and has launched a promotional campaign featuring prominent athletes including soccer star Alex Morgan and gymnast Jordan Chiles to raise awareness of the feature.
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7 Comments
As a female rider, I’m curious to see how this ‘Women Preferences’ option works in practice. Anything that can help improve safety and comfort for women is worth considering, but the legal issues merit close attention.
While I appreciate Uber trying to enhance safety, I worry this option could perpetuate gender stereotypes. Perhaps a more inclusive approach that focuses on overall platform security would be better in the long run.
That’s a fair point. Uber will need to carefully balance safety and inclusivity as they roll out this feature nationwide.
From a business perspective, this move by Uber seems like a pragmatic response to legitimate safety concerns. However, the long-term implications for gender equity in ridesharing will be an important factor to monitor.
This is an interesting development in the ridesharing industry. While the intent to enhance safety is understandable, I hope Uber can find ways to promote inclusivity alongside their efforts to improve user experiences, especially for women.
This is an interesting move by Uber to address safety concerns, though legal challenges over gender discrimination remain. It will be worth watching how this option is received and if it helps improve rider experiences, especially for women.
I’m glad Uber is taking steps to address safety, but wonder if this feature could have unintended consequences. A more holistic approach prioritizing platform security for all users may be a better long-term solution.