United States of America

Uber Expands Women Preference Feature Nationwide

Is Uber's Women Preferences feature a safety innovation or sex-based discrimination against male drivers?

Published MAR 10

Uber Expands Women Preference Feature Nationwide

Story

Above: The Uber logo at the company's headquarters in Mission Bay, San Francisco, California, on Aug. 20, 2024. Image credit: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

The Facts

Uber expanded its "Women Preferences" feature nationwide across the U.S. on Monday, allowing female passengers to request female drivers through the in-app "Women Drivers" option, while enabling women drivers to set preferences to receive trip requests from female clients.
Uber
Guardian
The Epoch Times
The feature is also available for Uber's teen accounts, which were first announced in 2023, allowing teenagers and their guardians to request female drivers both for on-demand trips and when booking in advance.
Uber
Uber
Uber first introduced the option in Saudi Arabia in 2019, following the country's decision to allow women to drive. Since then, the service has expanded to over 40 countries worldwide, with the company reporting that it has been used to complete more than 230 million trips globally.
Uber
In the U.S., Uber initially piloted the feature in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Detroit in the summer of 2025, before expanding it to 26 other American cities in November, including Chicago, Denver and Houston.
Uber
Uber
Uber's decision, however, comes despite it facing a class action lawsuit over the feature filed by two California Uber drivers, who allege that the preference violates California's Unruh Act, which prohibits sex discrimination by business enterprises.
Court House News
In response, Uber has filed a motion to compel arbitration in the case, citing an agreement signed by the plaintiffs upon joining Uber and arguing that the feature serves a genuine public policy interest by enhancing women's safety.
Independent
New York Post

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

Uber's Women Preferences program is blatantly discriminatory. Under California's Unruh Act, sex-based discrimination is illegal regardless of motive. Yet, Uber is pushing a scheme that prioritizes female drivers over their male counterparts for rides requested by women, resulting in male drivers losing out on business solely because of their gender.

Court House News

Narrative B

The Women Preferences feature delivers what both riders and drivers have routinely requested: the control and safety options that have already empowered over 230 million trips globally. The toggle is not about discrimination; rather, it enables women to choose how they want to travel, so they can be more comfortable and confident while using Uber's services.