Informal Vending and Street Disparities

 Image 1(Source: Phang. 2015. Blog Assignment: An Introduction to Urban Geography)

On some streets in Port of Spain the sidewalks are packed with vendors. The picture above was taken of Henry Street sometime around February. 

On Chaguanas main road the sidewalks are almost always filled with vendors. There is just barely enough space for single file two way pedestrian traffic and in some areas there is only enough room for one. 

Image 2 (Source: Phang. 2015. Blog Assignment - An Introduction to Urban Geography)

Image 3 (Source: Phang. 2015. Blog Assignment - An Introduction to Urban Geography)

A solitary vendor located on Edward Street.

Are the streets of Port of Spain and Chaguanas public space or private space? Public! The streets are public with only a few that are private. What defines these streets as public is that it is accessible to all and no one is supposed to be excluded from these spaces. Additionally there is no monetary cost incurred for using these spaces.

Many people who are of lower socioeconomic status or have failed to obtain a formal job take advantage of these public spaces. Employment on the streets consists of informal jobs and the most visible is informal street vendors. Functions of the Streets also includes: walking or exercising space, sleeping place, waiting area for transportation, entertainment, toilet and as a reflection of the city. The concentration of informal vendors are around the CBD-Central Business District because this is where the consumers are most concentrated. Vendors are also concentrated along routes that pedestrians frequent and transportation stops and drop-offs.

Along these public streets are no sitting areas to sit or relax on and all there is are businesses lined along the streets. This reflects the streets as a transition zone, a space meant for people to pass through and not stay for lengthy periods. Despite this street vendors do not feel out of place but forms a natural part of the urban lifestyle in Trinidad. Green spaces and parks were designed in Port of Spain for this purpose while in Chaguanas the only visible sitting area is opposite busy corner.The differences between both places are the former is more inviting and well utilized while the latter is uninviting and underutilized. 

The people in the transportation business sometimes find difficulty in theses spaces because of limited parking as well as the road policies. The cost of using parking facilities are high on the other hand illegal parking would be met with some form of legal punishment such as a fine or one's car wrecked. It would seem that the streets are more readily available for pedestrian use than vehicles. Nevertheless the majority of streets in Port of Spain and at the centre of Chaguanas vehicles are parked. On the Chaguanas main road and streets such as Henry and Charlotte Street in Port of Spain are congested with traffic. These are only certain areas, in other areas there is rarely a car driving by or pedestrian in sight. This is however rarely the case for Chaguanas because of its small size. The roads there are almost always busy during daylight hours. There are also many people occupying the roadways.Port of Spain is much larger and therefore the contrast is even greater. For instance Edward Street and St. Vincent Street along the twin towers (Ministry of Finance and Central Bank) has only a few cars parked at the side and very few vehicles driving on it. The further away from the twin towers the more vehicles there are parked along the road and driving on it . These are the disparities seen between urban areas and within them.

Indicators of Socioeconomic Status (SES)

Image 1 (Source: Phang. 2015. Blog
Assignment - Intro to Urban Geo)    

This picture was taken at Fredrick Street. 
 
Hierarchies may also be extremely multidimensional and complex, such as contemporary human societies, with innumerate subgroups and subcultures, and with stratification built along many lines including intelligence, appearance, talent, experience, age, pedigree, language accent, work ethic, and so forth. Relatedly, the level in inequality within and between dimensions of SES varies as well (Smith et al. 2011).

This picture was taken in Chaguanas next to the Chaguanas gas station. 

I maintain that SES is a construct that reflects one’s access to collectively desired resources, be they material goods, money, power, friendship networks, healthcare, leisure time, or educational opportunities (Oakes and Rossi 2003).

Image 2 (Source: Phang. 2015.

             Blog Assignment - Intro to Urban Geo)

The above images were taken at two locations. The first was taken at Port of Spain along the shopping district. The women shown were fashion forward and stood out. They without a doubt at first glance look like they are on this particular street to shop and entertain themselves. They're dressed casually and very possibly comfortably. The second image shown was taken in Chaguanas. The woman in particular wasn't in Chaguanas to shop but to do business or for entertainment. She's a walking salesperson and sustains her family and pays rent this way. She's also dressed comfortably and in both images flat footwear is worn as it is much more comfortable for long periods on the feet. There's a common saying "don't judge a book by it's cover." At first glance a person's income, bank account, state of health, level of education and job cannot be determined therefore how could one know their SES?

Socioeconomic is defined according to Merriam Webster dictionary: of, relating to, or involving a combination of social and economic factors. According to Michael Oakes in EHow, Socio economic status is lifestyle components and measurements of both financial viability and social standing. Social privilege and levels of financial independence are influenced by this. The factors listed below are studied by psychologist in order to determine the affect it has on human behaviors and circumstances. He goes on by stateing "as lifestyle measurements, they are believed to be directly correlated to patterns of drug use, food choices, migration, disease prevalence and rates of mortality in human populations." He strongly believes that one's economic status is heavily influenced by one's level of education as well as one's social status and to be trusted in one's particular field.

Factors associated with Socioeconomic Status (SES)

• ·         Education
• ·         Income: influences spending capacity, neighborhood choices, living conditions, higher educational pursuits, lifestyle choices and poor people making alternative choices.
• ·         Health: definite measurement of socio-economic status can hinder progress in education and employment options, affects mobility and the ability to socialize.
• ·         Environment as it reflects the socio-economic status of the person or persons.

 It has so far become obvious that SES "indicates one's position in a social hierachy or stratification" (Oakes, Michael). Social hierarchy, or stratification, appears to be intuitively recognized by most everyone everywhere (Smith et al. 2011). It is stated as well that there are various indicators during social interactions which convey one’s SES to other members of the social group.

Although there is no set definition for socioeconomic status and the variables used are always changing and the factors used to determine one’s SES is politically defined the above listed factors are what is used presently to determine one’s SES. There Is one thing that should be made aware with the use of socioeconomic status and that is status or position.  According to Professor Michael Oakes in  Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, socioeconomic status indicates one’s position in a social hierarchy or stratification. Social hierarchy, or stratification, appears to be intuitively recognized by most everyone everywhere (Smith et al. 2011). It is stated as well that there are various indicators during social interactions which convey one’s SES to other members of the social group. These indicators can be clothing, accessories, makeup, house, car, table manners, codes of humor, knowledge and so on.

They used the term caste as it conveys one’s social class, status or position however someone’s socioeconomic status can change because the factors used to measure namely income, education and health in most cases can change. This therefore would result in the rise or fall in a persons or person’s socioeconomic status. There are exceptions to these factors as not everyone who are rich completed their education or not all that have completed their education are rich. These factors are necessary to quantify if not understand the level of stratification or inequality in or between societies; capture and understand changes to the structure of a society; and it relates to the higher the rank or status of a person or group the better the chances for a long and healthy life.