Women and Places; Female Street Vendors, Territorial Identity and Placemaking

Abstract

Street vending is a vital part of global urban life and not a local phenomenon. It can be found in various countries and forms; stationary and mobile. In Egypt, street vendors’ activities are considered illegal, an image of backwardness, blocking investors and tourism. This study aims at monitoring and investigates the female street vendors' role in placemaking in Heliopolis, Cairo. Challenging the authoritarian illegality aspect, literature review, observational walks, and spontaneous interviews are adopted in obtaining data and evaluating the female street vendors’ role in constructing a sense of place and identity. Female street vendors' expression, displaying arrangement, socio-cultural identities and chancy events create livable public places, territorial identities and a sense of place.