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.

  • Tb0n3@sh.itjust.works
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    2 years ago

    What’s next? The “no blacks” option? I’m sure you can find studies to validate that fear too.

    • The Pantser@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      Lately we seem to be going backwards in equality. Men are getting shat on, especially those that haven’t even committed the atrocities they are being punished for.

      Why pick and choose who can use the feature to request gender. Make it fair and allow everyone or none.

      • cbarrick@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        There’s a lot to unpack here…

        But mostly I suggest you learn about the difference in equity and equality.

        Equality (what you are arguing for) is treating people the same.

        Equity (what this feature promotes) is giving people what they need to be successful.

        Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. Equity appears unfair, but it actively moves everyone closer to success by “leveling the playing field.”

        Equity involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, successful lives. Equality, in contrast, aims to give everyone the same thing, which does not work to create a more equal society, only to preserve the status quo, in the presence of systemic inequalities.

        Given that violent crime in the ride share industry is committed almost universally by men and disproportionately against women, this feature aims to provide equity to support more women as both riders and drivers.

        • abbotsbury@lemmy.world
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          2 years ago

          this feature aims to provide equity to support more women as both riders and drivers.

          it aims to provide equity, but through a really shitty and half-assed method that results in systemic discrimination

          Lyft could be vetting their drivers, taking a hardline approach on drivers which are reported, a trusted driver program, etc, anything that would actually be protecting vulnerable people from abusers, but instead went with the easiest most simple minded approach (which also doesn’t protect any vulnerable men) because they have no problem treating their drivers like shit

    • archiotterpup@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      Kinda telling this was your first comment when it’s about women’s safety and the rising number of abuses women have faced as passengers from the men driving.

      • kmkz_ninja@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        Kinda telling this was your first comment when it’s about women’s white’s safety and the rising number of abuses women whites have faced as passengers from the men blacks driving.

          • kmkz_ninja@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            I could show you a study showing that black people commit every single crime on earth and it wouldn’t make disceiminating against them any less racist.

          • Lizardking27@lemmy.world
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            2 years ago

            Go on then, show us your sexist study published by a reputable source.

            The person your replying to isn’t actually commenting on race, you just failed to understand their point.

    • exussum@lemmy.world
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      2 years ago

      This is the dumbest take I’ve seen. What are you even getting on about. This is just rancid bigotry veiled as concern.

      What are you even basing this on? Are you afraid of black people? Or do you just hate the LGBTQIA+ community and women? Or are you still privileged as one of those two that you don’t use Uber and are just spreading shits because you can?

        • exussum@lemmy.world
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          2 years 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@sh.itjust.works
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            2 years 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.

            • exussum@lemmy.world
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              2 years 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.