The working conditions of female street vendors in the Historic Center of Cuenca, Ecuador, from a feminist and intersectional perspective

Abstract

Street vending in the Historic Center of Cuenca is a predominantly feminized activity; therefore, this study seeks to characterize the working conditions from a feminist and intersectional perspective. A quantitative methodology is used, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational design. The applied techniques include a questionnaire implemented through Kobo Toolbox and applied to 704 women. The application of a labor conditions index reveals that the majority of street vendors experience precarious conditions, with the lowest scoring variables being union organization and the number of days worked per week. Ethnicity and educational level are the variables that show a statistical association with labor conditions. The study's conclusions reveal that a feminist and intersectional perspective makes it possible to highlight the multiple inequalities faced by women street vendors. Moreover, it underscores that other variable—such as ethnicity and education—may be more decisive than gender in shaping these inequalities.