Larguei tudo e fiquei aqui: um estudo sobre a construção da identidade social das mulheres vendedoras de refeições na cidade de Maputo

Abstract

The present study is part of Sociology and discusses the issue of social identity. The research addresses the question of construction of the social identity of women selling meals in the city of Maputo, 2023. The general objective of this work was to understand the construction of the social identity of street meals vendors and is limited to the period 2023-2024. The research problem is to analyze the process of constructing the social identity of women selling food on the street, taking into account the social interactions they establish within the scope of their daily activity. In this sense, the starting question of the study tried to understand how women selling street food construct their social identities through the social interactions they develop in their daily lives. For the development of the study we used the phenomenological theory of Alfred Schutz. The research method used was qualitative and the data collection techniques applied were interviews and non-participant observation. We then proceed to present, analyze and interpret the data and then present the final considerations of the study. Based on the study, the main conclusions are: (1). that the social identity of women selling meals is constructed based on the (re) significance of the learning and knowledge acquired during the sale of meals; (2). That the teachings that emanate from society will only be valid if the food sellers themselves make a subjective analysis of the importance of maintaining or changing certain behaviors, attitudes and practices, as well as the direct impact that these actions will have on the social interactions that will be established during the meal sales process