Women-only Uber launches across US

The new feature is being rolled out nationwide, although a class action lawsuit against the policy is ongoing in California. Several Uber drivers claim that this feature infringes on the rights of men. A similar lawsuit is also being fought against rival Lyft, which rolled out a similar service nationwide in 2024.

The new option, which Uber announced in its blog, allows female passengers to select a “female driver” mode in the app. If you wait too long for such a driver, the user may agree to a regular ride. In addition, a trip with a female driver can be booked in advance. There is a third option – indicate the preference of a female driver in the application settings. In this case, the likelihood of such a trip increases, although this is not guaranteed. Teens using special accounts can also book rides with female drivers. The drivers themselves can enable a setting in the application that allows them to receive requests only from passengers, and, if desired, disable it at any time.

Two California drivers have filed a class action lawsuit against Uber. They argue that the new feature could give female drivers an advantage in accessing more passengers and thereby violate a law that prohibits commercial companies from discriminating on the basis of gender. The lawsuit also says the service’s policies perpetuate the stereotype that men pose a greater threat than women. Uber, in turn, demanded that the case be referred to arbitration, recalling that drivers agree to the relevant clause when registering in the application. The company also said that the new feature does not violate the law, since it is aimed at achieving an important goal – increasing user safety.

Lawyer Anne Olivarius, co-founder of the firm McAllister Olivarius, which specializes in gender discrimination and sexual harassment cases, said Uber and Lyft have a strong defense. According to her, such functions meet a real business need – protecting customers. She noted that reducing the risk of sexual assault for passengers can be seen as an important business objective.

In recent years, both Uber and Lyft have received thousands of complaints of sexual harassment by drivers and passengers. In February, a federal jury found Uber liable in a 2023 sexual assault case and ordered the company to pay $8.5 million to an Arizona woman who said she was raped by a service driver.

Uber continues to insist that drivers work as independent contractors, so the company should not be held liable for their wrongful actions. However, the service says it is taking steps to improve safety, including in 2021 partnering with Lyft to create a database of drivers who have been fired because of complaints of sexual assault or other serious offenses. Uber said it hopes to use its Women’s Preference feature to attract more female drivers to its platform.