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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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Uber has announced a nationwide expansion of its Women Preferences feature, a move the company says gives women riders and drivers more control over how they use the platform—but some men are not happy with the change.
The feature, which allows women riders to request or reserve trips with women drivers and lets women drivers opt to receive ride requests from women only, is rolling out across the U.S., including in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
This expansion follows pilot programs launched last summer, and feedback from women who said the option made them feel more comfortable and confident using the service.
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But the announcement comes months after two California-based Uber drivers filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the policy unlawfully discriminates against men.
Newsweek reached out to Uber via email for comment.
Why It Matters
While many women have praised Uber’s new Women Preferences feature, the addition has caused upset with some men.
In November 2025, drivers Andre Almond of Los Angeles and Hans Ruud of San Francisco sued Uber Technologies Inc. in California state court, claiming the Women Preferences program unfairly limits male drivers’ access to rides and income by prioritizing women drivers when women riders request trips.
The lawsuit alleges the policy violates California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which bars businesses from discriminating on the basis of sex—regardless of intent.
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What Uber Announced
In a press release on March 9, Uber explained that Women Preferences was created in response to feedback from women riders and drivers seeking more choice and flexibility.
Under the feature, women riders can:
- request a ride with a woman driver on demand,
- reserve a trip in advance with a woman driver, or
- set a preference for women drivers in the app, though Uber notes matches are not guaranteed.
Women drivers, meanwhile, can opt in to receive trip requests from women riders only. The feature is also available to teen accounts in cities where Uber’s teen service operates, allowing guardians to request women drivers for their children.
Uber said the feature has been used for more than 230 million trips globally and is now available to drivers in more than 40 countries and riders in seven countries, including the United States.
What the Lawsuit Says
In their complaint, Almond and Ruud argued that Uber’s policy openly discriminates against male drivers by excluding them from a significant portion of ride requests based solely on sex.
The lawsuit states that Uber began implementing Women Preferences in select U.S. cities—including Los Angeles and San Francisco—in August 2025. Male drivers, the plaintiffs say, do not have access to the same preference settings available to women drivers.
According to the filing, women make up nearly half of Uber riders, while about 80 percent of Uber drivers are male. The plaintiffs argue that prioritizing women drivers for women riders leaves male drivers with fewer ride opportunities and less earning potential.
The complaint also alleges the policy reinforces harmful stereotypes by implying men are inherently less safe drivers. It seeks class action status on behalf of male Uber drivers in California, along with statutory damages, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees.
What People Are Saying
In a statement, Uber said: "Women Preferences was created because women asked for it. What began in 2019 after women in Saudi Arabia gained the right to drive and we piloted Women Preferences has grown into a global movement as women around the world embrace more control over how they use Uber.
"Over 230 million global trips later, Women Preferences is now available for drivers in over 40 countries, and for riders across seven countries, including the U.S., Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Brazil, and Spain."
The lawsuit presented to Uber in 2025 included: "Uber’s policy limiting [the plaintiff’s] access to about half of Uber’s rider base under its policy has caused him harm... The policy also reinforces the gender stereotype that men are more dangerous than women.”
What Happens Next
The lawsuit is still in its early stages, and Uber has not yet publicly responded in court filings included in the complaint.
Meanwhile, Uber says it plans to continue expanding Women Preferences and gathering feedback as the feature rolls out nationwide and internationally.
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