Uber Rolls Out Women-Only Option in the US
Friday, 2026/03/13223 words3 minutes102 reads
Uber has officially rolled out a feature across the United States enabling female drivers and passengers to request rides exclusively with other women, despite facing an ongoing class action lawsuit in California alleging gender discrimination against male drivers.
The Women Preferences feature, which was piloted domestically last year, allows female passengers to reserve trips with women drivers in advance or configure their app preferences to increase the likelihood of same-gender matching. The initiative responds to feedback from women who expressed a desire for greater autonomy and safety in their ride-hailing experience. In cities offering teen accounts, adolescents and their guardians can also exercise this preference.
Two California-based Uber drivers have challenged the policy, arguing it violates the state's Unruh Act by potentially granting female drivers access to a broader customer base. Uber has filed a motion to halt litigation and transfer the dispute to private arbitration, asserting that the feature serves a legitimate public policy interest in enhancing safety rather than constituting unlawful discrimination.
The controversy emerges against a backdrop of safety concerns within the ride-sharing industry. Last month, a court ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman assaulted by a driver, a verdict the company intends to appeal. Uber maintains that approximately 20% of its US drivers are women and already offers similar gender-matching options in over 40 countries globally.
