Why Are There So Few Women Cab Drivers?
by Marian Lorraine
We once had a woman cabbie who spoke through one of those creepy throat gizmos for cancer and emphysema survivors that make the voice sound like a tiny robot buried under a foot of gravel. And then she told us our future, which was pretty good at the time. Sigh.
DAVID
Where I hailed him: Port Authority
Where he hails from: Trenton, NJ
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: No previous profession
Wait, you’re going to print this? You’re just trying to get me to say that women are bad drivers! Ha. I don’t think that, by the way. There are horrible men and women drivers, especially in this city. But to answer your question, I have no idea. Maybe women think they can make more money doing other stuff. My girlfriend is a waitress, and most nights, she gets as much in tips as me. Sometimes more. Is it wrong to assume that women servers get tipped higher in restaurants than men?
ADAM
Where I hailed him: Grand Central
Where he hails from: Brooklyn
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Bouncer
Driving a cab is just one of those jobs that mostly gets either one or the other. It’s like, I don’t know, maids. Those are mostly women, like drivers are mostly men. There are a few women drivers, but not many. Actually, I know why there might not be many, especially during the night shift — it might be a management decision. I used to work as a bouncer — that’s another one that’s mostly men — and the managers used to not allow women to work after a certain time because they thought it was more dangerous. [Is it more dangerous to drive a cab at night?] I’ve never had any problem, but I figure, yeah. If you’re going to fuck up a cab, you’re not going to do it during the day. I have no idea if this is why or not — I mean, nothing is stopping women from becoming drivers, and as I said, I know some — but it probably explains why there aren’t as many at night: the bosses figure people will be less likely to try stuff on a guy.
ARMAN
Where I hailed him: Soho
Where he hails from: Queens
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Student
There are some women cab drivers, five to eight percent of the industry. It’s not a really safe job. All we have is this little window we can close, that’s it. Late nights can be very dangerous. I see these little old ladies driving cabs and I shake my head. I’m sure they get a lot of tips, but I still shake my head, because this isn’t a job that’s meant for a female. It’s not a sexist thing! It’s just there’s so much to deal with. I got two tickets today, for example. I’m sure some women are tough, but it’s still my philosophy that this job is not for them.
DAVID
Where I hailed him: Port Authority
Where he hails from: Trenton, NJ
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: No previous profession
Wait, you’re going to print this? You’re just trying to get me to say that women are bad drivers! Ha. I don’t think that, by the way. There are horrible men and women drivers, especially in this city. But to answer your question, I have no idea. Maybe women think they can make more money doing other stuff. My girlfriend is a waitress, and most nights, she gets as much in tips as me. Sometimes more. Is it wrong to assume that women servers get tipped higher in restaurants than men?
ADAM
Where I hailed him: Grand Central
Where he hails from: Brooklyn
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Bouncer
Driving a cab is just one of those jobs that mostly gets either one or the other. It’s like, I don’t know, maids. Those are mostly women, like drivers are mostly men. There are a few women drivers, but not many. Actually, I know why there might not be many, especially during the night shift — it might be a management decision. I used to work as a bouncer — that’s another one that’s mostly men — and the managers used to not allow women to work after a certain time because they thought it was more dangerous. [Is it more dangerous to drive a cab at night?] I’ve never had any problem, but I figure, yeah. If you’re going to fuck up a cab, you’re not going to do it during the day. I have no idea if this is why or not — I mean, nothing is stopping women from becoming drivers, and as I said, I know some — but it probably explains why there aren’t as many at night: the bosses figure people will be less likely to try stuff on a guy.
ARMAN
Where I hailed him: Soho
Where he hails from: Queens
Years as a cabbie: 4
Previous profession: Student
There are some women cab drivers, five to eight percent of the industry. It’s not a really safe job. All we have is this little window we can close, that’s it. Late nights can be very dangerous. I see these little old ladies driving cabs and I shake my head. I’m sure they get a lot of tips, but I still shake my head, because this isn’t a job that’s meant for a female. It’s not a sexist thing! It’s just there’s so much to deal with. I got two tickets today, for example. I’m sure some women are tough, but it’s still my philosophy that this job is not for them.
