Pink Taxi

The Pink Taxi has become official in Mexico. After Moscow and Dubai established this system of taxis for women, Mexico quickly fallen suit. A fleet of thirty-five pink taxi cabs roam the streets in Moscow, Dubai and now Mexico catering to women only. These pink taxis, driven by women, of course, also come equipped with beauty kits that are meant to offer ladies just the solution they’re looking for. This includes a ride from point A to point B and some time alone to redo their makeup and not having to deal with male drivers heckling them during the process. The privately financed Pink Taxi de Puebla invested over $440,000 to start the service, and the Puebla state government provided licensing and training for the company and its drivers. If the program succeeds, officials plan to expand it to other cities.

Many women who have used the services provided to them say it is a fantastic idea and how much they love the idea. "Women’s rights activists, though, are not as convinced that this is a good idea, especially since, aside from promoting positive discrimination, it also implies that all that women are about is makeup and an obsession for all things beauty. Instead of preventing discrimination, as Pink Taxi claims, the fleet of pink vehicles actually works towards encouraging it by enforcing stereotypes that women have been struggling with for years, critics say." Activists feel as though the obnoxious driver and discrimination towards women should be tackled in a completely different manner.

I personally think that this is a great and extremely safe way to allow women to feel more comfortable, especially if they are alone in a taxi cab.

www.lilith-ezine.com/articles/.../Pink-Taxis-in-Moscow.html

Gorgon, Elana. "Mexico Promotes Beauty, Fights Discrimination with Pink Taxi." Www.news.softpedia.com. Life & Style, 22 Oct. 2009. Web. 6 Nov. 2009. .