Underground Employment: Analyzing the Job Quality of New York City Subway Dancers

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the New York City subway phenomenon known as “showtime.” Using an individuals-in-relation framework and drawing on Marxist and feminist economic perspectives, it investigates the job quality of subway dancing as a type of informal self-employment. The data come from thirty-four in-depth interviews conducted in 2016. The paper contextualizes earnings, hours, and conditions of work by considering the social relations and power dynamics in which they are embedded. While dancers articulate advantages of this work, such as setting one’s own schedule and having a creative outlet, they also articulate disadvantages, most notably the risk of being arrested. While the dancers see performing on the subway as productively contributing to New York City, the police categorize this activity as a crime. Through this analysis, the paper provides insights into the broader context of work relations and inequality in New York City. HIGHLIGHTS Empowering aspects of subway dancing include not having a boss and ability to express creativity. Challenges include negative passengers and risk of injury or arrest. Subway dancing highlights lack of quality formal employment for marginalized populations in New York City. Criminalizing subway dancing is an example of criminalization of black male bodies in the US.