I avoid cabs when I’m alone. Usually, I’d rather walk. However, sometimes I’ve had a few drinks and it’s cold or I’m in uncomfortable shoes, so I’ll wave a taxi down from the sidewalk.
When I get in the car, my eyes immediately dart around for a licence number. I’m ready to jump out if it’s not posted. Once I do locate the number, I immediately text it to my partner. It is draining to have to experience so much fear when I’m just trying to get somewhere. So, when I heard about Lady Drive-Her—an airport car service with all-female drivers—I was pretty happy.
For those who don’t know, here’s some background: CBC’s Elizabeth Chiu did a great story on it yesterday. One aspect of this story really bothered me, though.
In true entitled male fashion, two men drove up to offer their two cents on the matter. Chiu writes:
“While CBC was interviewing the female drivers in a parking lot at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, a vehicle with male airport drivers pulled up with their critique.”
A story that should have been about a women-run business was co-opted by two men whose opinions weren’t even asked for. Unfortunately, it also became the focus of the headline.
Crissy McDow, who started the company, then had to defend herself. McDow explained “she’s simply expanding her business to meet a need.” And she’s right. I can only think of one instance in which I’ve had a female driver. Unfortunately, that’s also one of the only times when I wasn’t uncomfortable in a cab.
One of the choice quotes from Lady Drive-Her’s critic: “You might be sending the wrong message to the consumer saying it’s OK to be afraid of male drivers.”
Counterpoint: It is OK to be afraid of male drivers. We shouldn’t have to be, but it’s also a completely rational fear. It’s true that the sexual assault is an extreme example, though we’ve seen our fair share of that in HRM. There are also smaller, more common instances that make women reluctant to get in the car with a strange man—because, yes, that’s ultimately what it means to get in a taxi. It could be anything from an inappropriate comment to using the rearview mirror to stare at your boobs (the latter happened to me when I was 14).
So, men, just let us have this. Let us have this one fucking thing. I am confident you will still dominate the cab industry, like you dominate so many others.
I only hope Lady Drive-Her is successful and expands to the city as well. Maybe I’ll go out at night more than once every few months.
Related Stories
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Sexual Assault Centre sees calls for help rise in wake of Lenehan ruling
Years after my own assault, nothing has changed
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This article appears in Jun 8-14, 2017.
Lady Drive Her is a team of women who are already legally licensed with the HRM and licensed with the Halifax Airport . These woman either work for themselves or they work for another Company. These women are making themselves available, because the demand is there for a personal request for a female driver from MALES and FEMALES for their own personal reasons . This has been a demand for years, but there was never enough women drivers to provide this service/demand. Crissy (owner) decided that maybe now, we do have enough women drivers on board, to try and help with the demand for women drivers. This has always been discussed( for years) but action was never taken until now. Lady Drive Her was not created because of all the publicity about safety . It was created due to the demand from the consumer while working at the Airport and during pre arranged service. This Lady Drive Her Group has never worked the City down town other than pre arranged service . They all are working through the Halifax Airport because they pay for an annual license there. Crissy has an establish Company already, with men and women drivers that transport men and women passengers. This New Venture “Lady Drive Her” is a company that is giving the public, Male or Female, the option or choice for a Lady Driver due to the customers own person reasons. If the demand wasn’t there , there would be no need for the option . This Lady Drive Her Group, have been working for years doing prearranged service and working with their Airport licenses. Letting the public know there is now options to fulfill their personal needs, is not a crime . Sure this venture has ruffled a lot of feathers, but after explaining their true intentions , and the message Lady Drive Her is trying to get across , are finding people are starting to understand, they are just trying to fill the public demand . Lady Drive Her was not aware of how much the personal demand is in the city , until all this publicity has started, as these drivers were always based at the Airport . ( fyi: Just awhile ago an established City Taxi Company was on the radio to let people know that their Company had woman drivers that the public
could request. I never heard any feedback from this interview??)
I hope I may have helped answer a few of the questions people had about this new Venture, and to assure you the intentions are not to be racist or sexist . It’s all about options and choices . During these last few days I find that people are trying to help spread the word about this new option ,and sometimes choosing the wrong words and coming across in a different light . There are a few talk shows and ventures ahead that will hopefully give Lady Drive Her time to get the message across to the public . Having options is not a crime, and trying to service the need/demands of the consumer, male or female . Hopefully I have chosen the proper words to explain this venture, to help you understand the message. I personally am one of the 10 Lady Drive Her’s, that have had a Taxi/Limo license with the City and Airport for 20 years, and my Husband is also a Taxi Driver. Believe me, there is no bad intentions here at all.
And the male opposition that Lady Drive Her was involved with, has been resolved after they understood our intentions .
I’m sympathetic to the issue, but adopting a “no male” policy in response to offenses committed by some males is logically equivalent to adopting a “no muslim” policy in response to offenses committed by some muslims, or a “no black” policy in response to offenses committed by some black Canadians. It is essentializing, insluting, and discriminatory.
Wow, first comment out the gate is a “not all men” one. It is not insulting (chuckled at the “insluting” typo), discriminatory or essentializing, whatever that means. It’s called being safe. If all things were, indeed, equal, then yeah, it would seem like some sort of elitist vag move. But I would hardly call cab rides a level playing field. It is not a question of privilege to ride in a female-driven cab, unless of course you believe that not having your body ogled, touched, or violated in any number of ways is a privilege. Oh wait…
I’d like to address the second post starting with: I’m sympathetic to the issue………If you have listened to Lady Drive Her’s interviews carefully (and their are a few more interviews tomorrow as well, one is on 95.7 Friday morning) you will not hear “no male policies ” anywhere in her conversation. She already has 2 established Companies with Men and Women Drivers carrying Men and Women passengers. There is a group of Women that have been working at the Airport that offered to help out with the demands from the public ,when necessary, if they chose a woman Driver. Just so you know, Males and Females are requesting this service for their own personal reasons..These women have their own business’s already, or work for another Company. They also have men and women passengers. Where does it say “no male policy”? I’m confused. The HRM Taxi Commission has Men and Women Drivers, is there a law against letting the public know this? It is the consumer, customer that is requesting this service not Lady Drive Her. The media have all put their own spin on this article that we could not control, so hopefully Lady Drive Her has her day to try and get her message across and hopefully ease some of the concerns that are out there.
While I apologize for the typo, I don’t apologize for taking a “not all men” stance. Frankly that’s the same stance that should be taken by any group that gets essentialized by the actions of a few (e.g. not all blacks, not all muslims, not all fill_in_the_blank). I have been deeply affected by sexual assault, and I don’t debate it is a problem nor that it is a crime that for the most part is perpetuated by men. However, instituting policies or providing tailored services that implicitly endorse the view that a group is dangerous because of the actions of a few is discriminatory.
Specifically to Linda: How does it make you feel that your “it’s called being safe’ logic justifies not only a “lady drive her” service but also to a “Christians drive me” service? Would you be A-OK with someone offering a service that guaranteed you’d get a Christian rather than Muslim driver? If not, why not?
Scrutinizer: You are talking about apples and oranges here. The point is the GENDER of the driver, not their race, religion or anything else. And if someone wants to have a Christian drive them someplace, fine. I personally wouldn’t choose that particular service, but if that’s what floats someone’s boat and it’s a viable business, then whatever. However, if my female driver happens to be Christian, Muslim, a person of colour, LGBTQ etc. that’s not really an issue for me. It’s like a woman preferring to have a female doctor. It’s a comfort zone that should be addressed and if there is enough of a demand for Lady Drive Her, then what’s it to you?
I am 100% for this service — if there are enough women in this city who are this frightened of being alone with male taxi drivers (I’ve never had a female taxi driver) that it makes this business model profitable, then yes! It’s not really taking anything away from men, it’s simply a service for women and I think it’s rather petty that some men are bothered by this.
That said, I stopped reading at “In true entitled male fashion”. Fuck your prejudice.
If men are offended that many people feel safer with a female taxi driver, how about they address the REAL problem. Go after the men that are making people feel unsafe in the first place, advocate for new policies, training, Etc.
if you care so much about losing these people’s business, you should do whatever it takes to make all your customers comfortable. Right?
Taxi companies offer a service. If the customer isn’t happy with your level of service, they’ll go elsewhere. Don’t sit around whining because Lady Drive Her is meeting that demand, just up your game!
Best of luck to this new venture. If anyone doesn’t understand the need for this service then you need to give your head a shake and speak to a woman who’s taken a taxi alone. I’ve never been attacked but like this author, I’ve also always looked for the license number of the cabbie when I get in. A lot of men (not all, but sadly a lot) have no concept of what women have to do to try and protect ourselves from a possible attack when we are alone. We know very well how lopsided the justice system is on sexual assaults and that if something were to happen the odds are not in our favor for either getting out unhurt or finding justice afterwards.
Sexism isn’t a one-way street ladies. If you refuse to hire people based on their sex(men), be prepared for a human rights challenge.
How is it discriminatory? Nobody is stopping men from driving cab. Why shouldn’t the consumer be able to choose the service that they feel safe with? It’s a free market. Let the consumer decide.
Discriminatory? Not discriminatory? Who the fuck cares? People these days are like Discrimination Nazis, always looking to throw around accusations about everything everyone does. It honestly bores me, my eyes glaze over and I start making grocery lists and thinking about when I should get my oil changed when people start with the discrimination yammering. People overusing words like racist, bigoted, mysoginistic, discriminatory, etc… have desensitized me to the point that I just don’t care anymore. People qouting percentages of diversity this, and institutionalized have been the new catch phrases used by the twats of the world so they can sound progressive and edgy. Maybe you didn’t get the job because you came off like a knob, maybe people don’t like you because they find you abrasive, not because of any discrimination, bigotry or sexism. Some people just walk around with a shitty cloud of drama over their heads, unable to see it because you have banned or blocked everyone that has a differing opinion, and your followers/friends keep liking your bullshit. It’s really easy to get lost up your own ass if you only see the world through your chosen lense.
Don’t get me wrong, there is very real discrimination out there, and that is wrong, but twisting shit to suit your agenda hurts your cause more than it helps. This is the age of unfounded accusations, where questioning someones motives or asking for actual proof gets met with righteous indignation and personal attacks. So I ask, does it really matter whether it’s discriminatory or not? I say not, because a week from now this will be forgotten, and the nutjobs will jump on the next bandwagon topic. Everyone needs to get over themselves, cuz the world is becoming a shit storm of stupidity!
Can you have a license plate “DRIVEHER” but not “GRABHER”?
Please visit our website and hopefully it can answer all of your questions
http://www.ladydriveher@gmail.com
I honestly can’t believe with all the headlines recently about female passengers being sexually assaulted that this is even a debate. As a woman with PTSD from being raped, this is a service I would use. You don’t know what it’s like to be trying to take a cab while your cab driver constantly interrupts your conversation so he can ask personal questions. The drive from the Halifax Shopping Centre to SMU almost seemed like it was twice as long despite minimal traffic. And the stat according to RAINN is that 1 in 6 women have been raped, if I remember correctly. Why don’t we matter? Why don’t our friends who want to protect themselves matter? I can tell you first hand that the justice system does not prioritize victims. I had to fight to get help from victim services because the cop on my case didn’t think I needed it. On top of that, he suggested to my friends that if I didn’t want to be sexually assaulted in the store I worked, as manager I should have put a sign up that told customers it was inappropriate to come out of the dressing rooms fully naked (the man who did it was well into his 40s and shouldn’t have needed a 21 year old to be his moral compass). Then I would get told one thing about the case, like I would get to testify if I wanted to, then getting the phone call from the man’s new probation officer to tell me the whole case had gone through the courts already and no one had told me