Women, streets, and empowerment. Case: women informal vendors in the city of Ibagué (Colombia)

Abstract

This research was carried out with the purpose of determining the main problems faced by women informal vendors in the downtown area of Ibagué (Colombia) and to propose recommendations that contribute to the improvement of their labor activity. For this purpose, a qualitative approach was used, with an explanatory scope. Initially, a questionnaire was applied to 110 informal saleswomen to establish their most representative sociodemographic characteristics associated with a classification by age groups. Subsequently, using the (IAP). Research-action-participation methodology, the informal traders, through an empowerment exercise, revealed as main problems: loss of confidence in the municipal administration, conflict in/and over public space and limited access to sources of financial resources. They made recommendations to solve these problems.