BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- China's ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing on Thursday published a report on the state of women rideshare drivers in China and Latin America.
The report, based on survey data collected from China, Brazil and Mexico, showed that mobile technology is driving down the cost of accessing information, helping women break through constraints in traditional industries and providing employment opportunities in new economy sectors, which helps eliminate gender discrimination and have a positive impact on gender equality.
Women rideshare drivers in Brazil, China and Mexico account for 16.7 percent, 7.4 percent and 5.6 percent of total rideshare drivers on DiDi platforms, respectively.
Ridesharing offers a buffer and a key source of income for women and their families to cope with the ever-changing macroeconomic conditions, the report said.
According to the report, there are a lot of differences among women rideshare drivers in terms of lifestyle and work conditions. However, their rideshare career plays an important role in their life, both in terms of contributing to their families and to social and economic development. It is also an important channel for achieving gender equality and autonomy.
The gig economy gives women another alternative to keep income and caretaking in balance. It also offers them a buffer to search for other long-term employment opportunities with increased autonomy, according to the report.
DiDi Chuxing operates under its own brand in China, Mexico, Australia and Japan. It also acquired 99, Brazil's leading rideshare company, in January 2018. A global ride-hailing investment and partnership network connecting DiDi with seven major international players now serves over 1,000 cities and reaches over 80 percent of the world's population, according to the company.
