The negotiating patterns of female vendors: a case from Dhaka city

Abstract

Street vending is one of the most important informal occupations in Bangladesh. Due to its easy availability and minimal skills requirement, this occupation became very popular with the urban poor. The country’s economic growth after the 90’s expanded the informal sector which resulted in a massive influx of migrants. As a result, many urban poor women started to join the garment industries and others joined in the informal sector like vending. Though males and females are working as vendors in Dhaka public space, this study observed a gender difference. In the same public space males and females are perceived and treated differently because of the patriarchal norms. As a result, the negotiation patterns of males and females are different. This study analyzes that women vendors in Dhaka city use different strategies to negotiate their livelihoods in public spaces. Using in-depth interviews with over 10 respondents in Dhaka city this study identified the challenges and explored the factors behind different negotiating patterns of stationary women vendors in urban space.