Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work

This study analyses the meanings street vendors confer upon informal work. Episodic and semi-structured interviews were used to generate and analyze the meanings and vision constructed by 50 street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia. We organized the data through the analysis of thematic networks, starting...

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Main Authors: César A. Bernal-Torres, María C. Peralta-Gómez, Ulf Thoene
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2020-12-01
Series:Cogent Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2020.1726095
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author César A. Bernal-Torres
María C. Peralta-Gómez
Ulf Thoene
author_facet César A. Bernal-Torres
María C. Peralta-Gómez
Ulf Thoene
author_sort César A. Bernal-Torres
collection DOAJ
description This study analyses the meanings street vendors confer upon informal work. Episodic and semi-structured interviews were used to generate and analyze the meanings and vision constructed by 50 street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia. We organized the data through the analysis of thematic networks, starting with initial categories complemented with categories that emerged during the process. Findings show that street vendors confer meaning upon their work as a service, as the only chance to earn a living, and of their autonomy. They construct meanings of work as individualistic, responsible, and helpful workers. Thus, at the same time that they express satisfaction with what they do, they also express nonconformity and dissatisfaction with not having the opportunity to access other types of work. Despite the existence of stigmas and the negative effects thereof that Colombian society maintains about the work and the presence of street vending activities, street vendors carry out their work out as a dignified lifestyle and they see their activities as honorable and as contributing to the well-being of society. This study seeks to contribute to the debate about the meaning that society and academia form about street vendors, their activities and the workspaces they occupy.
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spelling doaj.art-258705829f56482e8deba7778f44785e2022-12-21T18:22:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Psychology2331-19082020-12-017110.1080/23311908.2020.17260951726095Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal workCésar A. Bernal-Torres0María C. Peralta-Gómez1Ulf Thoene2Universidad de La SabanaUniversidad de La SabanaUniversidad de La SabanaThis study analyses the meanings street vendors confer upon informal work. Episodic and semi-structured interviews were used to generate and analyze the meanings and vision constructed by 50 street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia. We organized the data through the analysis of thematic networks, starting with initial categories complemented with categories that emerged during the process. Findings show that street vendors confer meaning upon their work as a service, as the only chance to earn a living, and of their autonomy. They construct meanings of work as individualistic, responsible, and helpful workers. Thus, at the same time that they express satisfaction with what they do, they also express nonconformity and dissatisfaction with not having the opportunity to access other types of work. Despite the existence of stigmas and the negative effects thereof that Colombian society maintains about the work and the presence of street vending activities, street vendors carry out their work out as a dignified lifestyle and they see their activities as honorable and as contributing to the well-being of society. This study seeks to contribute to the debate about the meaning that society and academia form about street vendors, their activities and the workspaces they occupy.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2020.1726095bogotacolombiaglobal southinformal employmentinternally displaced peoplemeanings of worknetworksstigmastreet vendingurban informalityurban spaces
spellingShingle César A. Bernal-Torres
María C. Peralta-Gómez
Ulf Thoene
Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work
Cogent Psychology
bogota
colombia
global south
informal employment
internally displaced people
meanings of work
networks
stigma
street vending
urban informality
urban spaces
title Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work
title_full Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work
title_fullStr Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work
title_full_unstemmed Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work
title_short Street vendors in Bogotá, Colombia, and their meanings of informal work
title_sort street vendors in bogota colombia and their meanings of informal work
topic bogota
colombia
global south
informal employment
internally displaced people
meanings of work
networks
stigma
street vending
urban informality
urban spaces
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2020.1726095
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