What are the experiences of service workers in urban informal economy workplaces? : a study of informal hairdressing operations in the Johannesburg CBD.
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Date
2013-10-03
Authors
Mpye, Dipalesa Xoliswa
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Abstract
This
research
study
examines
the
experiences
of
service
workers
in
the
informal
economy
by
exploring
informal
hairdressing
operations
within
the
Johannesburg
CBD.
Drawing
on
ethnography
at
a
hairsalon
in
Braamfontein
and
semi-‐structured
interviews
with
hairdressers,
customers,
hairsalon
owners
and
City
of
Johannesburg
officials,
it
argues
that
the
emotional
and
affective
labour
in
this
kind
of
work
offers
hairdressers
an
important
basis
for
them
to
weave
meaning
into
their
work.
The
affective
relationships
that
they
create
through
hairdressing
present
them
with
the
potential
for
the
self-‐constitution
of
their
work
and
lives.