Uber lets US women choose female drivers

Uber has rolled out a "women preferences" option across the US allowing riders to request only female drivers; the feature was first introduced in the US in 2025 and is facing a class-action lawsuit in California that alleges sex discrimination.

Uber has made a "women preferences" option available across the United States that lets women request only female drivers. The company says the option responds to feedback from female riders who wanted more control over who drives them. The feature was first introduced in the US in summer 2025 and expanded to 26 cities before the nationwide rollout. Uber also says the option was first used in Saudi Arabia in 2019 and has since been offered in multiple countries. Key facts: - The option is called "women preferences" and is now available across major US cities, including New York. - Uber introduced the feature in the US in 2025 and says it has been offered in around 40 countries with roughly 230 million trips completed under similar settings. - A class-action lawsuit filed in California by Uber drivers alleges the policy discriminates against men and breaches the Unruh Act; the lawsuit contends it reduces the pool of potential passengers for male drivers and reinforces gender stereotypes. - Uber has rejected the claims made in the lawsuit. - Uber has faced thousands of reports of sexual assault by drivers; a jury earlier found the company liable in a 2023 assault case and awarded $8.5 million to a plaintiff. - Lyft introduced a similar feature in the US in 2023 and expanded it nationwide in 2024; Lyft is also facing a legal challenge over its program. Summary: The expansion lets female riders request only female drivers nationwide and follows prior rollouts abroad and in parts of the US. The policy is the subject of a class-action suit in California that alleges sex discrimination while Uber disputes those claims. Undetermined at this time.