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Uber is letting women avoid male drivers and riders in the US (www.uber.com)
submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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When women riders and drivers told us they wanted more control over how they ride and earn, we listened. That feedback led to Women Preferences, features designed to give women the choice to ride with other women. Since our first pilots last summer, we’ve heard just how much that choice matters—from feeling more comfortable in the back seat to more confident behind the wheel.

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[–] 31 points 6 months ago (16 children)

I don’t get why they don’t just make this a global option. Anyone can choose their preferred gender. Some women prefer women, some prefer men. Hell, some men prefer men.

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  • [–] 16 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

    I imagine lawyers are the biggest issue. Anti discrimination laws vary greatly by jurisdiction. This type of de jure discrimination against a privileged group to counter de facto discrimination against a marginalized one is the type of situation that is going to be thorny pretty much everywhere, with differing results everywhere.

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  • [–] 6 points 6 months ago* (12 children)

    They' say they're doing it for women's safety, which makes sense. On its face I agree with you that it should be global, to let everyone express their preference for whoever. Assuming men create most of the harassment/assault issues, though, it could be a bad idea to give those same men the ability to get a woman (or a man) delivered to their location at the push of a button. We could even see cases of that ability attracting unsavory types who would otherwise not even consider using Uber. I don't exactly put a lot of faith in them creating a culture of safety that would prevent it. I myself prefer not men as drivers, and would like the option, but I'm also not a fuckin' creep.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago (10 children)

    Eh, this could easily be exploited though, could it not? Just register as a woman looking for a woman client/driver. Is there a verification process to prove you’re a woman?

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago (7 children)

    It probably pulls from whatever's already on the license. I assume there's a verification process to drive.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago* (6 children)

    In like, 20 states plus DC you can change your sex on your ID basically on demand (no doctor's note or court order or whatever). There's enough Uber drivers out there someone will mark themselves F or X to keep their job options open.

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  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    That will get interesting. I can't remember if there's id verification on the rider end, but there will probably have to be. That could be what this whole thing is about, come to think of it....

    Also, I'm wondering how they'll treat trans and agender people who don't have m or f, or who can't mark their actual gender on their ID in their state.

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  • [–] 0 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    They still have to treat a trans M to F as if they were an M, unless they transitioned completely, for practical purposes.

    Don't even bother with agender, apparent gender will be used, obviously.

    Because a woman does not care what gender you want to be, only how much risk you are to her, obviously.

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  • [–] 0 points 6 months ago (1 child)

    Anyone can break any law or regulation, doesnt mean that we give up laws and regulations.

    And likely not. Most services already ask you about your gender (even like reddit or tumblr) so I assume that will suffice and we wont have "ID verifying gender"

    Or maybe some conservative hack will propose ID verified gender, who knows.

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  • [–] 1 point 6 months ago

    So the answer to someone breaking a law or regulation is… more laws and regulations?

    If someone is going to assault another human, they aren’t going to hit a “oh boy I better not lie to uber” roadblock…

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