The Women Street Food Vendors as Economic Agents of Davao de Oro's Informal Economy: A Multiple Case Study

Women street food vendors play a critical yet underrecognized role in informal economies, particularly in provincial and rural contexts where formal employment opportunities remain limited. This qualitative multiple case study examined the economic agency, lived experiences, and coping strategies of women street food vendors operating within the informal economy of Davao de Oro, Philippines. Using purposive maximum variation sampling, five women vendors participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis and cross-case comparison. Findings revealed that women vendors function as primary economic agents by sustaining household livelihoods, supporting children’s education, and contributing to local food access despite operating under conditions of income instability, health risks, and limited institutional support. Their economic agency was enacted through adaptive business strategies, resourceful financial management, strong customer relations, and reliance on social and family networks. Coping strategies were shaped by perseverance, faith, relational support, and continuous business adaptation. The study extends empowerment and social network theories by demonstrating how women’s everyday economic practices generate resilience and autonomy within structurally marginalized informal settings. Policy implications underscore the need for gender-responsive support mechanisms, including secure vending spaces, accessible microfinance, and capacity-building initiatives that recognize women street vendors as vital contributors to inclusive local development.