The taxi industry is one of the most gender-skewed professions in the world. The situation is slightly better when it comes to ride-hailing apps like Uber, but that comes with its own set of problems: women are paid less than men, platforms have been sued over safety, and working in the gig economy is precarious. Experts say the very design of ride-hailing apps is bringing offline biases to the online world. For example, some of a driver’s greatest earnings potential could come at times during which female drivers may feel less safe, such as late at night in crowded nightlife spots. Algorithms on ride-sharing apps tend to reward experienced drivers who drive long hours each day and know the tips and tricks of the system. But women are fighting back. In Nairobi, female drivers who work for An Nisa only pick up women and children and earn more commission per ride than their bigger competitors. Even the big players - Uber, Bolt and Didi- are rolling out special programs in an effort to encourage more female drivers to get on board. Bolt says its women-only function, available to both drivers and passengers, has increased its share of female drivers in Kenya, but they remain a stubbornly small 4% of the Kenyan Bolt fleet. Women-only ride-hailing companies have been sprouting up around the world. So why is there a need for them, and can they help make one of the fastest-growing sectors a little more gender equal? Watch the video to learn more. 00:00 Intro 1:08 Ride-hailing apps in Kenya 2:16 Life as a driver 3:32 Women-only apps 5:32 Women on Uber and Bolt 06:13 Algorithmic bias 08:19 'It's a nice job' Subscribe: https://www.bit.ly/3L0j2Ro Watch more videos: https://www.bit.ly/3FPmblU Visit our site: https://www.context.news/ — We make short documentaries, explainers and original series for people who care about the world’s biggest challenges. Context is anchored around three of the most significant and interdependent issues of our time: climate change, the impact of technology on society and inclusive economies. We contextualize how critical issues and events affect ordinary people, society and the environment. Context is a media platform brought to you by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. Through journalism, media development, free legal assistance, and convening initiatives, we combine our unique services to drive systemic change.