Survival Tactics of Waste Paper Pickers in Istanbul

Yigit, Ismail Hakki

doi:10.29333/ejecs/20

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Contemporary ethnographies continue to evidence the social implications of handling dirt for identity formation ( Morales and Lambert 2013 ; Sanders 2010 ). Waste pickers tend to be immigrants, marginalized, “unskilled,” and lower-class laborers ( Yigit 2015 ). The dirty touch required for waste picking can be unpleasant, dirty, and dangerous (e.g., inhalation of dust—UK Health and Safety Executive 2020 ), and this can make it an undesirable occupation.…”

Section: Tactile Historiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Filtering Touch: An Ethnography of Dirt, Danger, and Industrial Robots

Barker¹,

Jewitt²

2021

Journal of Contemporary Ethnography

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“Industry 4.0” marks the advent of a new wave of industrial robotics designed to bring increased automation to “extreme” touch practices and enhance productivity. This article presents an ethnography of touch in two industrial settings using fourth generation industrial robots (a Glass Factory and a Waste Management Center) to critically explore the social and sensorial implications of such technologies for workers. We attend to manifestations of dirt and danger as encountered through describing workers’ sensory experiences and identity formation. The contribution of the article is two-fold. The first is analytical through the development of three “filters” to grasp the complexity of the social and sensorial dynamics of touch in situ while tracing dispersed mediating effects of the introduction of novel technologies. The second is empirical, teasing out themes embedded in the sociosensorial dynamics of touch that intersect with gender, ethnicity, and class and relate to the technological mediation of touch.

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Section: Tactile Historiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Filtering Touch: An Ethnography of Dirt, Danger, and Industrial Robots

Barker¹,

Jewitt²

2021

Journal of Contemporary Ethnography

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“…Mitchell (2009) observed waste intermediaries in Hanoi, examining the effects of the economic restructuring of Vietnam on its informal activity. Yigit (2015) conducted a 1-year ethnography of waste paper pickers in Istanbul, examining the reasons why this type of economic activity continued across generations and demonstrating that waste pickers’ behavior varies by how they work and what they extract for recycling. Whitson (2007, 2011) demonstrated that defining waste picking as an activity that adds no value to the refuse management system further marginalizes informal recyclers in Buenos Aires, Argentina.…”

Section: Studying Informal Waste Pickers: Informal Approaches To Garbmentioning

confidence: 99%

Doubly Engaged Ethnography

Pacheco-Vega

Parizeau

2018

International Journal of Qualitative Methods

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Understanding the unique challenges facing vulnerable communities necessitates a scholarly approach that is profoundly embedded in the ethnographic tradition. Undertaking ethnographies of communities and populations facing huge degrees of inequality and abject poverty asks of the researcher to be able to think hard about issues of positionality (what are our multiple subjectivities as insider/outsider, knowledge holder/learner, and so on when interacting with vulnerable subjects, and how does this influence the research?), issues of engagement versus exploitation (how can we meaningfully incentivize participation in our studies without being coercive/extractive, and can we expect vulnerable subjects to become deeply in research design/data collection, and so on when they are so overburdened already?), and representation (what are the ethics of representing violence, racism, and sexism as expressed by vulnerable respondents? What about the pictures we take and the stories we tell?). Through the discussion of our research on the behavioral patterns, socialization strategies, and garbage processing methods of informal waste pickers in Argentina and Mexico, we ask ourselves, and through this exercise, seek to shed light on the broader questions of how can we engage in ethnographies of vulnerable communities while maintaining a sense of objectivity and protecting our informants? Rather than attempting to provide a definite answer, we provide a starting point for scholars of resource governance interested in using ethnographic methods for their research. We highlight the challenges we've faced in studying cartoneros in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and pepenadores in Leó n (Mexico) and engage in a self-reflective discussion of what can be learned from our struggle to provide meaningful, engaged scholarship while retaining and ensuring respect and care for the communities we study.

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“…Due to their lack of resources, garbage lines the streets of many cities in developing countries. Yigit (2015) asserts that recycling enables waste pickers and their families to survive and benefits communities, municipalities, and the environment. Hence, the state should recognize and value waste pickers in its policy formulation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, Yang et al (2017) argue that the recycling methods employed cause environmental pollution and health problems. Yigit (2015) notes that waste pickers benefit themselves, their communities, and local government. Ma et al (2017) note, "In many countries, the informal sector is regarded as undesirable and often a nuisance despite the services it provides."…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Qualitative Design in Political Communication Research, Surveys and Public Opinion

SIBANDA,

PHESA

2023

IJESSS

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The main aim of this study was to unpack the health and socioeconomic status of waste-picking activities in Mayville, Cato Manor, and Westville in Durban. It analyzed the quality of life of waste pickers, their awareness of the risks associated with this kind of work, and the extent of their uptake of health-protective measures. A quantitative approach was adopted, and a questionnaire was used to gather data from 81 waste pickers. The findings revealed that unemployment was the main reason for taking up waste picking and that this was the respondents' primary source of income. It was also found that most respondents resided in shacks and had no access to running water. Most were unaware of the risks associated with this kind of work. Based on these findings, it is recommended that economic development be pursued to create employment opportunities and that delivery of essential services such as potable water be improved, especially in informal settlements. Awareness campaigns should be launched to educate waste pickers on handling waste, the risks associated with this kind of work, and the need to adopt protective health measures. Finally, the researcher recommends further research on waste picking in Durban as there is a paucity of information on this activity in the city.

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Survival Tactics of Waste Paper Pickers in Istanbul

Cited by 6 publications

References 5 publications

Filtering Touch: An Ethnography of Dirt, Danger, and Industrial Robots

Filtering Touch: An Ethnography of Dirt, Danger, and Industrial Robots

Doubly Engaged Ethnography

Qualitative Design in Political Communication Research, Surveys and Public Opinion

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