Philipa Birago Akuoko publishes a new article on informal women's work in public spaces.

01/13/2026 -

in

Forschung
Fachgebiet

A woman carries a large metal basin filled with blue bags on her head while holding a child secured on her back with a patterned cloth. She is walking along a busy street with vehicles and other people in the background. — Kumasi Kejetia/Central Market, Ghana (2023)

Informal work performed by women in public spaces is a central pillar of urban livelihoods in the Global South. This article shows how this work ensures social reproduction, economic autonomy, and social identity despite displacement and precariousness. It argues for informal work to be recognized as an integral part of urban development and urban policy.

Article

Akuoko, Philipa B., and Michèle Amacker. 2025. “ Informal Women's Work in Public Spaces: Why Should It Matter?” Gender, Work & Organization: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/gwao.70079.

Keywords

informal work/ public space/ (Re)productive work/ redevelopment/ women's work

Authors

Philipa Birago Akuoko

Michèle Amacker

Abstract

Informal women's work in public spaces is central to livelihoods and social dynamics in cities of the Global South. For decades, public spaces have functioned as vital sites of economic activity, particularly for women engaged in informal work. Yet, recent urban redevelopment initiatives lead to the displacement and marginalization of these workers. This article investigates the complex, everyday ways in which women's work sustains social reproduction amid enduring colonial legacies, patriarchal norms, and precarious economic conditions. Using a qualitative comparative case study approach grounded in decolonial social reproduction theory, this study examines the intersections of women's lived experiences of productive and reproductive work. It highlights the structural challenges faced by women working in public spaces, including exclusion from statutory planning processes and precarity under capitalist urban transformations. Findings show that informal work not only sustains women's financial autonomy and ability to support their families but also constitutes a source of social identity and economic empowerment. This article argues that gender and development discourses must integrate informality as co-constitutive of urbanism to comprehensively address the needs and contributions of women in the Global South. It asserts that recognizing the advantages women gain from informal work can guide policy efforts toward supporting sustainable livelihoods and promoting inclusive economic growth.

More information here

Back