Uber Expands Options for Drivers and Riders to Opt Out of Men

The preference tool debuted in July due to ride-share safety concerns. Uber now offers the women-only safety feature, Women Preferences, nationwide. Initially introduced in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit, this feature allows users and drivers to set gender preferences for ride matches and schedule rides with women drivers, available for Teen Accounts too. According to Uber, Women Preferences facilitated 230 million rides since launch. It’s available for drivers in 40 countries and riders in seven countries. Lyft, a competitor, launched a similar feature for women and nonbinary riders connecting to non-male drivers almost two years earlier. Both companies face criticism for not adequately addressing rider assaults. Recently, Uber was held partially liable for sexual violence by a driver, resulting in over $8 million in damages. The company faces numerous pending sexual assault lawsuits. Meanwhile, male drivers claim these safety features constitute workplace gender discrimination, with lawsuits alleging lost wages and suggesting grounds for a class action lawsuit.