It is very important in today’s society for women to feel empowered; while a feeling of empowerment should be a basic and daily experience for women, that is unfortunately not the case. There are many women who have major roles and equally important jobs and statuses as men. Women are a vital part of keeping the community together and balanced. So why do so many women still feel unsafe when doing simple things like riding in a taxi?
“Only about 2 percent of all US taxi drivers (about 225,000 in all) are female. Women account for 60 percent of all taxi rides in New York City yet men account for 99 percent of all taxi drivers.” Although more than half of taxi riders are women, there is still a huge gap between male and female drivers.
The trouble in this situation points to an issue of safety and security. Oftentimes as a woman going around a busy city at night, unsure of who’s around, one might feel threatened or uncomfortable. A new taxi service called SheRides, similar to Uber, only employs women and services women. The goal of SheRides is to make women feel comfortable when in need of a ride home. Recent incidents in taxis have made women feel unsafe and frightened to ride in taxis, and SheRides can help ease nerves and ensure safety.
The drivers of SheRides wear pink scarves, so they are easily recognizable. The service, which follows many other companies such as Cabs For Women in Australia, and She Rides in India, is also working to establish more women as taxi drivers. SheRides can pick up passengers in Westchester County, Long Island, and New York City. It allows women to order a car with the convenience of their smartphone with their mobile application. Stella Mateo, the creator of SheRides, created it with the thought that women feel more comfortable with female drivers.
The fact that SheRides was created in the first place, evidently out of necessity, shows that there is still much to be done when it comes to gender equality in terms of daily experience. While it is necessary, however, SheRides is helping to foster a safe environment and expand how we can use technology to enhance and ever protect our lives.