Uber And Lyft Face Lawsuit From Male Drivers Claiming Women-Only Ride Options Are Discriminatory And Limit Their Earnings
Male drivers for Uber and Lyft have filed dual class-action lawsuits accusing the rideshare companies of gender discrimination over initiatives that allow female passengers to request women drivers.
The suits claim Uber’s Women Preferences and Lyft’s Women+ Connect unfairly limit men’s earning opportunities, according to TIME.
Lawyers for the two male drivers in each of the two cases, acting as plaintiffs, argue that male drivers “are discriminated against and receive fewer and different rides than they otherwise would absent the policy.” They also say the policy “reinforces the gender stereotype that men are more dangerous than women,” per TIME.
The lawsuits allege violations of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits sex discrimination by businesses, and seek $4,000 in damages per affected male driver in the state.
Celeste Juarez, 28, a frequent user of Uber’s Women Preferences option, told TIME she had many uncomfortable experiences with male drivers before. She believes the lawsuits are “misguided.”
“As a woman, it’s about my safety and getting to my destination without any repercussions or any unwanted sexual advances. With this option, I feel so much safer and don’t have anxiety coming home late or have to worry about whether or not I will make it home,” Juarez said.
Allegations Of Sexual Assault Against Uber And Lyft
The features come after years of sexual harassment and assault allegations against both companies.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, allegations against Lyft include 17 lawsuits filed in 2022 across Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Passengers and drivers who claim they were physically or sexually assaulted while using the platform filed the lawsuits, with an attorney describing the situation as a “nationwide crisis” stemming from the company’s alleged failure to protect users.
Uber’s most recent U.S. Safety Report, which covers 2021–2022, reveals that the company received 2,717 reports of serious sexual assault or misconduct, with drivers accused in 92% of cases, per TIME.
The most common incidents involved non-consensual touching or penetration, with the latter primarily affecting women, who made up 89% of survivors, compared to 8% who were men.
A similar report released by Lyft in 2021 detailed over 1,800 reports of sexual assault during rides in 2019, and nearly 4,000 incidents from 2017 to 2019.
Women+ Connect
Lyft’s “Women+ Connect” program launched in the United States in September 2023, offering women and nonbinary drivers rides with drivers of the same gender. First rolled out in a few pilot cities, on Feb. 13, 2024, Lyft shared that the feature was available nationwide.
“Drivers and riders asked for it, and Lyft is the only rideshare company with Women+ Connect in the US,” Lyft CEO David Risher said in a statement. “When rideshare is better for women and nonbinary people, rideshare is better for everyone. We’re proud to bring the comfort and camaraderie of Women+ Connect to millions across the country.”
Women Rider Preference
On July 23, 2025, Uber announced its program allowing female drivers and passengers to ride with other women, with initial rollouts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Detroit. Uber had already launched the feature in 40 countries, starting in Saudi Arabia.
“Across the US, women riders and drivers have told us they want the option to be matched with other women on trips,” Uber said in its announcement. “We’ve heard them—and now we’re introducing new ways to give them even more control over how they ride and drive.”
Per TIME, Uber and Lyft had not provided comment on the matter at the time of reporting.
