Uber has unveiled a new feature designed to let female riders and drivers pair exclusively with one another — and while the move is aimed at boosting safety and comfort, it’s already sparking emotional responses online, particularly from men.
The feature, dubbed “Women Preferences,” allows women using Uber in select cities to request female drivers when booking a ride. It also gives female drivers the option to only accept requests from women passengers. Uber says the goal is to create a safer, more comfortable experience — something many riders and drivers have long asked for.
Initially launching in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit, the new feature will appear alongside existing ride types like UberX and UberXL. Riders can pre-book with a female driver or set a general preference. Uber notes, however, that matches aren’t guaranteed due to driver availability.
While many applauded the update, some men on social media lashed out with sarcastic and critical posts. One viral comment read: “Can I request a man in case I want an emotionally stable drive that can parallel park?”
Despite the backlash, the idea isn’t new — and it isn’t just an Uber initiative. The company has piloted women-only matching in over 40 countries, starting with Saudi Arabia in 2019. Lyft launched a similar U.S. program in 2023 called Women+ Connect, which prioritizes matches between female and nonbinary drivers and passengers. That feature is now available in all U.S. cities where Lyft operates.
Both companies cite safety concerns as a driving factor behind the initiative. Uber’s most recent safety report, covering 2021–2022, showed a continued decline in serious sexual assault incidents — but also revealed that 89% of victims were women.
The new feature represents a step toward addressing those concerns — even if it’s causing some online controversy along the way.
