My project, “Food
for Thought: Street Vendors Navigating Public Space in Washington, D.C.”
originated during a sociology course, The Urban World (which I highly
recommend), where we had to conduct an ethnographic study on public space in
Washington, D.C. Out of equal parts
nostalgia and insatiable hunger, I decided to investigate how street vendors
shape public space. What I didn’t realize, however, was how this question would
change and evolve into this project.
During those
initial interviews with several vendors on the National Mall, they shared their
thoughts, feelings, and stories. They
told me they were struggling to support themselves due to the rapid growth of
food trucks in D.C. and the introduction of the lottery system, a blanket
approach to regulation, which only permits them to work two days a week. Two days are not enough to support themselves
and their families back home. So, many
of the vendors resort to working informally.
As a result, some vendors are arrested, ticketed, and criminalized. One vendor exclaimed to me, “What am I
selling, drugs? Cocaine? For 2,000 dollars? I’m not even selling ice cream for
3 dollars!” As I reflected on my experience, I realized my question of how
street vendors shape public space has changed to, how does public space and
those who govern it, shape them? Therefore, I decided to conduct a cross-sectional
analysis of mobile food vendors in D.C. to draw comparisons among different
types of vendors, such as gourmet food trucks, to better understand why some
vendors are struggling to achieve upward mobility.
Throughout this
process, I spent time canvassing food truck hotspots in D.C., recruiting
participants and conducting interviews, and of course, eating delicious
food. I also gained skills in research
design and qualitative methods such as coding, categorizing, and data analysis.
What appealed to me most about qualitative research was its exploratory nature.
It utilizes a systematic framework to find answers to challenging or unresolved
problems, yet, still fosters my passion for creativity through the use of
different methods of coding and data interpretation. As a social work major,
qualitative research also complements the profession’s values of social justice
and inherent dignity and worth of the individual. Therefore, the vendors are embraced as the experts.
By working collaboratively with the vending population, this study unites their
voices to advance an agenda for reform and change to improve their
lives. Overall, their stories and this project had a profound impact
on me. They inspired me to ask
questions, dig deep, and think critically.
