Abstract
Background: Informal market traders play a significant role in global economies by
generating income for themselves and providing affordable goods and services for consumers.
Their contributions, however, frequently come at a cost, as they face unique challenges and
unaddressed care needs in trying to achieve a balance between work and family
responsibilities.
Aim: The research aimed to explore the care needs of women market traders working in the
informal sector in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
Method: The study employed an instrumental case study design located within an
interpretive, qualitative research approach in order to gain a better understanding of the
personal perspectives of informal women traders about their care needs. The target population
of the study was women informal market traders who had children, elderly or sick family
members or person living with a disability as care dependants. Data were collected through
semi-structured interviews with a sample of 15 participants and were analysed using thematic
analysis. The study was guided by Tronto’s (2005) feminist Ethics of Care theory.
Findings: Key findings of the study revealed that women market traders had come to work
in the informal sector because of unemployment, poverty and low educational attainment.
Poor infrastructure and harassment by officials compromised the health and safety of these
women traders and the children who accompanied them to the market. Care roles were
influenced by gender expectations and Tronto’s care element of responsibility, and prioritising
caregiving impacted negatively on business activities, while support from others (Tronto’s
care element of solidarity) helped them to cope with their care responsibilities and reduced
the negative impact on their market trading. They were often too exhausted to apply Tronto’s
care element of attentiveness and some of the people who assisted them in caregiving lacked
Tronto’s care element of competence.
Conclusion: Fulfilling the dual roles of caregiver and market trader influence the extent to
which women can participate in the informal sector and the quality of care they can provide
to care dependants. These findings highlight the need for policies regarding social protection
for informal market traders and affordable public care services for their care dependants.
Keywords: informal economy, women market traders, care needs, work-family balance,
gender roles, care responsibilities.