Incidents of harassment towards women by Uber drivers continue to recur. The most recent case involved an Uber driver harassing the daughter of a foreign ambassador, leading to the driver’s arrest.
This is not the first of these incidents, and it seems unlikely to be the last.
After the tragic death of Habiba al-Shamaa, I had hoped that Uber would conduct more thorough background checks on its drivers, especially given the driver involved in Habiba’s death had a criminal record. But where is the oversight from Uber before hiring new drivers? Is it possible that the company is simply focused on increasing its fleet size and profits without adequately vetting its drivers?
The incident involving Habiba was not an isolated case.
If the company is not making an effort to verify the backgrounds of its drivers, then it is certain that the responsible authorities should verify the company’s documents, especially the criminal records of its drivers. There certainly should be a fine imposed on the company in the event of another harassment incident.
The situation cannot be left as it is, allowing drivers the freedom to commit acts of harassment.
The dilemma with Uber drivers is that they are not considered employees, so labor laws do not apply to them. As a result, they reap the benefits without bearing the responsibilities. Therefore, their status must be regulated so that they are held accountable for their actions. The matter should not be limited to their relationship with the company; they must be subject to oversight and accountability.
The real problem is that Uber has become such a widespread mode of transportation that cannot be dispensed with, but this does not mean that we should allow Uber drivers to operate with impunity.
Not only should the company impose regulations, but the authorities should also establish rules for driver operations that must be adhered to. We should not continue to hear about new incidents every so often. The company should not merely attempt to deal with each incident as an isolated case of misconduct by one of its drivers.
Rather, it should view it as something that damages its reputation and threatens its continued existence as a primary mode of transportation for a large number of citizens.
Such incidents jeopardize the widespread use of this service.
Harassment has become a significant issue in our society, and it is crucial to study and analyze it to find ways to reduce it.
It is truly baffling that incidents of harassment by Uber drivers continue to occur, despite the punishment imposed on the driver who committed the crime against Habiba. One would expect that any driver contemplating harassment would remember that punishment, but strangely it has failed to deter them from continuing to harass women.
The truth is that the problem of harassment is not limited to these Uber drivers; it is prevalent among many young men and men in general. It seems that society has allowed men to feel a sense of masculinity by engaging in harassment and has not dealt harshly enough with harassers. I recall a time when harassers who were caught had their heads shaved as a form of punishment, but this practice was brief.
Are we in need of a severe punishment specifically for harassment to protect women and girls not only from Uber drivers but from any harasser in the streets or public?
The real problem is that society underestimates harassment and does not treat it as a crime of aggression against others.
Author’s bio:
Karima Kamal, a prolific writer and journalist, has held key positions in the media industry.
She served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Sabah al-Kheir magazine, co-founded Al-Badil newspaper, and authored six books.
Her contributions to journalism and women’s rights were recognized through her appointments to the Supreme Council for the Press and the National Council for Women.
