Women in Informal Economy: Challenges and Coping Strategies of Female Street Vendors in China

Abstract

The informal economy plays an important role in developing countries, contributing to the overall economy and poverty reduction. Street vending, in particular, has created a large number of employment opportunities and enhanced the living quality of the poor. Despite these contributions, street vendors, especially women, are excluded and unfairly treated. This paper aims to examine the challenges faced by women in the informal economy from the perspective of female street vendors in China and puts forward policy suggestions. To make up for the loopholes of existing research, which sees this issue from a macro perspective instead of a micro, or gender, one, this paper draws on the method of open coding to reveal the reality faced by female street vendors relative to their male counterparts. Open coding demonstrates that harassment by chengguan is the most common challenge in the eastern and southern cities, and its degree is closely related to the inconsistent policies in different cities and regions. Meanwhile, there is a lack of effective government response to women’s work-family conflict and specific legislation for women. Besides, compared to national laws and policies, the local governments rarely think from the perspective of female street vendors while formulating and implementing relevant policies. The result is followed by relative suggestions including clear legislation, a better role for women’s associations, and appropriate regulatory policies. These materials are likely to help explore this issue from the feminist perspective and provide a reference for further research.