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The app-based cab service currently mainly employees male drivers, over 90 per cent of Uber drivers in London are male. They have now announced that they will collaborate with UN Women which will aim to reach equality within the profession. 

 

Following the recent incident in Delhi, India where a young woman was raped by a driver after requesting a cab using the Uber app, introduction of more female drivers wold mean that the female passengers would feel a lot more at ease. Women are already looking for alternative all women drivers cab services that many big cities are beginning to offer, like London lady chauffeurs and pink ladies in London.

 

Diana, 46, has worked as a taxi driver in London for over 7 years now; “I've been thinking to join Uber for some time. Their system allows us taxi drivers to get more clients and also just makes our work more flexible in general. It is a lot harder to be a female driver these days, women love when they see me turn up, but men are not so happy. I suppose it is all due to the stereotype that comes along with it, that we women are worse drivers than men, which of course isn't true, but what can you do.”

 

And it is not just Uber who are stepping up to support women and promote equality, in fact Addison Lee came up with the idea some time before Uber. In 2012 Addison Lee launched an initiative to offer opportunities and training for women drivers by teaming up with Women 1st.    Addison Lee is a leading Europe cab service and has often been praised for its determination to achieve absolute equality and comfort in the work place, for all of its employees. 

 

Uxia Beiras Fernandez, 23, a student from London, uses Uber on daily basis; “I'd prefer a female driver, so I wouldn't have to fear the idea of maybe him taking me to a corner and raping me. Men are socialised into misoginy.The system brings them up seeing women as objects that can manipulate in whichever way they want, hence, rape culture. So every man has internalised rape culture to one extent or another. Women have as well, but not as as active agents of it. So, statistically, a man is more liable to rape me than a woman. So yeah, I feel more safe with a female taxi driver than a male. Since maths show me that it is indeed safer”