Lyft's new feature lets women and non-binary riders request their driver's gender | CNN Business
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Lyft is introducing a new feature that lets women and non-binary riders choose a preference to match with drivers of the same gender.

Lyft is introducing a new feature that lets women and non-binary riders choose a preference to match with drivers of the same gender.

The ride-hailing company said it was a “highly requested feature” in a blog post Tuesday, saying the new feature allows women and non-binary people to “feel that much more confident” in using Lyft and also hopefully encourage more women to sign up to be drivers to access its “flexible earning opportunities.”

The service, called “Women+ Connect,” is rolling out in the coming months. Riders can turn on the option in the Lyft app, however the company warns that it’s not a guarantee that they’ll be matched with a women or non-binary person if one of those people aren’t nearby. Both the riders and drivers will need to opt-in to the feature for it work and riders must chose a gender for it to work.

  • @exussum@lemmy.world
    14•1 year ago

    If you could empathize, then you’d understand how shitty of a sentence, “WhAt abOUT BlAckS,” is. Or, “It’s okay to ignore the problem 'cause it’s not fair to men.”

    Really think about it. Guys have no choice but to not have the option. What is taken away? This is the same BS as, “Why do we need a lactation room? MEN can’t use it.” “How come women get days off for their PMS-related things, I don’t menstruate.”

    • Tb0n3
      12•1 year ago

      I’m just calling out discrimination by comparing it to discrimination. Just because you think one is better than the other doesn’t mean other people do.

      • @ParsnipWitch@feddit.de
        3•1 year ago

        This is just getting butthurt for an absolutely silly reason and simultaneously showing no empathy at all.

        Let’s get the facts down:

        • For men nothing changes.

        • Women are disproportionately affected by sexual harassment and assault by male drivers.

        • Women and non-binary people get the option to use a probably paid feature to have drivers of their own gender because the companies want more customers and women and non-binary people don’t use their service since they are scared.

        The reaction here in the comments isn’t “omg I didn’t know it was so unsafe for some people to use these services” or “good for them to make more people feel safe”. No.

        The reaction is: “Why do THEY get a feature I don’t?? I demand to also get this, they shouldn’t have something I can’t have!! Sexist misandrists!”

        • Tb0n3
          6•1 year ago

          No. The reaction isn’t “I want this service too” it’s “this service is morally wrong”.

        • Tb0n3
          7•1 year ago

          If they haven’t hurt anyone and they’re merely using their free speech then I would not defend assault and battery on them. Just because their ideas and speech are deplorable does not give you the right to assault them.

              • @SeducingCamel@lemm.ee
                3•1 year ago

                The opposite actually, you’d prefer to platform outright hateful people than aggressively remove them to show that they aren’t welcome.

                • Tb0n3
                  5•1 year ago

                  You seem to equate in difference to all as agreement to the worst. That’s not how any of this should work.

                  • @SeducingCamel@lemm.ee
                    2•1 year ago

                    Something something a Nazi walks into a bar, I’m sure you’ve read this story on here.

                    Being indifferent will just allow the problem to fester, sure maybe you aren’t on the streets shouting down minorities with them, but you are just letting them go about doing their thing because they have this magical right to their terrible harmful opinions

    • @Abnorc@lemm.ee
      4•1 year ago

      Well, it is a valid argument. Since women are often uncomfortable around men they don’t know, it does seem fair to give them an option to avoid male Lyft drivers. What if someone is uncomfortable with a black driver? It is a similar situation.

      Honestly, if I were a woman I would possibly use this feature. Personal safety goes above any moral ideals that I may be tooting around. That’s why I’m kind of split about this. People should be able to feel as safe and comfortable as possible, but male drivers shouldn’t feel like they’re less preferred by a portion of Lyft’s users.

      • @exussum@lemmy.world
        3•1 year ago

        You’re talking in circles. The problem is because men are the largest perpetrator, well also being the biggest benefactor of being a man. They are literally on both ends. Women on the other hand are largely targeted by men for crimes of various sorts, well also not benefiting from the patriarchy.

        Hell they have to have separate train cars for women in japan because men can’t keep their hands to themselves.

        There is nothing societal that benefits black drivers. That’s exactly the point. There is no equity here. If I’m a black driver, chances are I’m already on the back foot. People might cancel their rides once they see me, or bring cops into play and have other violence brought against me. Remember that one black dude in Central Park who was bird watching and had a woman start accusing him of stuff.

        Don’t put women further on the back foot. Don’t put persons of color on the back foot. Cis white men already have the advantage in so many ways.

        It’s not funny anymore.