UCLA

Why do we not see more female drivers in ride-hailing services? The advancement of technology is reshaping transportation for both drivers and riders through platform economies. This study focuses on the gig drivers in Los Angeles county using a gender lens. It attempts to analyze why there is still a gender gap in the ride-hailing sector, although this gap is narrower than in the taxi industry. The questions of the research are: 1) why do women become ride-hailing drivers? 2) Are ride-hailing systems redefining the gendered nature of the driving occupation, which is traditionally male-dominated? 3) What challenges do female ride-hailing drivers face, and 4) how are these challenges different from those faced by men?. The study draws from 20 interviews and 400 survey responses of ride-hailing drivers in Los Angeles. The survey and interview data are interpreted with the help of statistical analyses and content analysis. The paper concludes with further research and policy suggestions for ride-hailing companies to welcome more female drivers on board and turn their work into a safer and fairer model. The study finds that female drivers' ongoing safety concerns and the possibility of getting harassed hold them back from attending to this labor force as much as men do. Also, it finds that many gig workers, who lack many employment benefits and a decent income without the support of a partner, have to take care of their households and families regardless of their gender. The ride-hailing companies have a large room to improve their safety systems to welcome more female drivers on board.