Navigating Algorithmic Control: The Gendered Mobility of Female Gig Workers in China

Mobility—the ability to move between locations—is a critical means of accessing opportunity but is fundamentally gendered. Globally, women’s mobility is often more constrained, characterized by shorter journeys and a greater reliance on walking and public transit due to societal norms and safety concerns. These gendered constraints have historically excluded women from mobilityintensive professions like delivery and transportation. The rise of gig platforms, however, has prompted a significant increase in female participation in these sectors in China.

This study investigates the experiences of female gig workers on ride-sharing and delivery platforms in five major Chinese cities. While these platforms market themselves as gender-agnostic and offer women flexible entry into the workforce, they often embed and perpetuate gender biases through algorithmic management. Mechanisms like dispatch and ranking systems can favor traditionally masculine traits, creating gender pay gaps and exacerbating health and safety risks for women.

Using a mixed-methods approach, this paper explores how female gig workers navigate algorithmic control while managing migration, family responsibilities, and daily spatial practices. Our analysis, situated within China’s patriarchal social context and lack of platform regulation, reveals a triple marginalization: female workers are marginalized from mobility (in access to opportunities), in mobility (during their work journeys), and by mobility (through the algorithmic systems that govern it). The findings advocate for gender-conscious platform design and regulation to mitigate bias, enhance safety, and address the disproportionate adverse outcomes women face in the gig economy.