Street Food Vending: For Economic and Social Empowerments of Women Street Food Vendors in Dumaguete City, Philippines

Abstract

The study examined economic and social empowerment among women street food vendors of Dumaguete City in the central part of the Philippines. The study focused on women street food vendors who sold in areas where most people gathered, particularly in four locations: near the schools; at Rizal Boulevard and the pier area; the premises near the Dumaguete Cathedral; and, at Quezon Park area including surrounding streets. Purposive sampling was used to gather field data in this descriptive quantitative study. A set of questionnaire was the main instrument of the survey to a total of 96 women street food vendors as respondents. Helping the family was the primary reason why respondents engaged in street food vending. Street food vending empowered women-vendors economically – all respondents earned profits every day from 25% to 100% of their daily capital, no matter how small the capital. On the other hand, respondents’ social empowerment showed having more time for family togetherness like interpersonal communication among family members; and, bonding at home was enhanced by listening to radio for drama and watching TV for news or soap opera and entertainment together with family members and neighbors; moreover, owning cell phones provided respondents to establish contacts - friends, food buyers or customers aside from their families.