Street traders' life experiences

This study employed a qualitative research design with an ethnographic approach to deeply engage with the lived experiences of street traders. The research was conducted in two rural towns in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Sampling Strategy

A purposive sampling technique was used to select 20 street traders (10 men and 10 women) who were engaged in caregiving roles alongside their work. Participants were selected based on the following criteria:

• They had to be actively working as street traders.
• They had to have caregiving responsibilities for children, elderly family members, or dependents.
• They needed to be available for in-depth engagement over an extended period.

Data Collection Methods

1. Semi-Structured Interviews
2. • Conducted face-to-face with all 20 participants.
   • Covered themes such as perceptions of caregiving, work-care balance, socio-cultural expectations, and personal strategies for managing dual responsibilities.
   • Interviews lasted between 60 and 90 minutes and were conducted in Tshivenda and translated into English.
   • Recorded and transcribed for analysis.
   • All participants' identities were anonymized through the use of pseudonyms
3. Observations
4. • Conducted at market stalls where participants worked.
   • Captured how traders balanced their caregiving roles while working, including interactions with customers and caregiving activities at the stalls.
   • Observations were documented through field notes over a period 1 week

Data Analysis

• Thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns and themes across interview transcripts, field notes, and photographs.
• A coding framework was developed, guided by the research questions and theoretical frameworks.
• The findings were interpreted through the lenses of social reproduction and intersectionality, ensuring a nuanced analysis of gendered caregiving experiences.

Please note, the names used are pseudonyms