Zhanna Urazbakhova, Anar Burasheva and other activists and experts in the field of women's rights protection, as well as women working in taxis, discussed how to improve working conditions for female drivers in Kazakhstan and create a safe environment for passengers. The discussion took place within the framework of the Women in RH panel discussion, organized by the InDrive transport and urban services service.

At the end of October 2024, a panel discussion Women in RH (“Women on car trips”) was held in Almaty, dedicated to barriers and opportunities for women in the field of passenger transportation. The event was attended by InDrive service driver, human rights activist and influencer Zhanna Urazbakhova, journalist and feminist Madi Mambetov, the first Kazakh woman to conquer Mount Everest, Anar Burasheva, media manager Aisana Ashim, journalist and activist Asem Zhapisheva, as well as InDrive business development specialist in Kazakhstan Ainur Akhanova and InDrive country manager Aray Bekembayev.

In the field of passenger transportation, there has traditionally been a significant gender imbalance among drivers towards men. This trend continues, although it is not uncommon to meet a woman driving her own car on the road. However, experts noted that female drivers are more vulnerable on the road than men.

"More than 90% of drivers in passenger transportation are men. It may seem that they are simply better suited for this profession.: they can work day and night, and in a confined space with strangers. In fact, this is not the case. It's just that women are more at risk," said Ainura Akhanova, Business Development Specialist at InDrive in Kazakhstan.

In addition, conflicts between drivers are often resolved in raised tones, even force can be used. And there is also a bias on the part of male drivers, road users. 

"If you make a mistake on the road, they shout at you out the window: "You should have stayed at home, woman!". When a man makes the same mistake, no one drives him to the kitchen," said Indera Moldagalieva, an InDrive driver.

Often, female drivers do not feel safe during the trip, as well as female passengers. At the same time, passengers often prefer female drivers, as they are more comfortable with them. Human rights activist Zhanna Urazbakhova explained it this way: 

"Women feel safer with other women. They don't ask each other the questions “Are you married? Can I have your phone number?"Men often perceive working as a taxi driver as a way to get to know each other."

Experts have proposed a number of solutions to improve the comfort and safety of women on a city trip. Among the ideas voiced were, for example, the creation of a program to teach ethical behavior, because men often do not feel the line between polite communication and violation of personal boundaries. Another idea is to test drivers to assess their level of aggression and sociability when applying for a job.

InDrive representatives stressed that the service's operating model allows drivers and passengers to choose each other according to different criteria, which allows girls to respond only to girls' suggestions. However, the company is also considering the possibility of launching a separate women's tariff. So far, these are only plans, but it is possible that a similar tariff may appear in Kazakhstan as early as 2025.

"Each of us has our own Everest — to become a good mother, to achieve heights in our careers or to make the roads a little safer for other women. And the patriarchal world should not interfere with us in this," Anar Burasheva, the first Kazakh woman to conquer Mount Everest, summed up the session.

The initiative to hold this event belongs to InDrive, which for the second year in a row holds discussions with opinion leaders, bloggers and human rights activists in order to honestly and impartially look at itself and the passenger transportation industry from the outside. The goal of InDrive is to create a safe and comfortable environment for all participants of the trip. According to Aray Bekembayev, InDrive's country manager in Kazakhstan, the company consciously assumes social responsibility for the development of an inclusive environment in the industry, even if some solutions do not bring direct commercial benefits.

The experts stressed the importance of such discussions for the development of the industry and the development of effective solutions to ensure the safety of all participants in the passenger transportation market.

About the company

InDrive is a global transportation and urban services platform headquartered in Mountain View, California, USA. The InDrive app is the second most downloaded ride booking app in the world for 2022 and 2023, it has been downloaded more than 240 million times. In addition to travel, InDrive provides a growing list of urban services, including intercity and freight transportation, master's call, courier and B2B delivery. 

InDrive is present in more than 779 cities in 46 countries around the world. The company supports local communities through its contractual payment model and community support programs that help improve education, sports, arts and science, gender equality and other vital initiatives. 

More information on www.inDrive.com