Flowers as Vehicles for Integration: The Urban Experiences of Migrant Street Vendors in China's Informal Economy

This study examines how street flower vending facilitates urban integration for internal migrant workers in China by investigating economic, social, and identity dimensions of integration. Through semi-structured interviews with twelve migrant flower vendors, this research reveals how the distinctive characteristics of flower vending create unique pathways for integration. Economically, while flower vending provides sufficient income, it alone does not contribute to meaningful economic integration. Rather, the autonomy, entrepreneurial agency, and self- determination afforded by this occupation constitute more significant factors in vendors' economic incorporation into urban life. Socially, flower vendors develop deep spatial familiarity with urban environments, build diverse social networks with both fellow vendors and local customers, and gain intimate understanding of local cultures and values. From an identity perspective, though vendors experience regulatory challenges from urban management systems, they demonstrate remarkable resilience and develop a sense of meaning through their role in urban environment. The findings suggest that street flower vending, with its aesthetic nature and special positioning in urban spaces, provides migrant workers with opportunities for integration that differ from other forms of street vending or informal employment. This research contributes to understanding how participation in specific niches within the informal economy can shape migrants' broader urban integration experiences and highlights the active agency of migrants in navigating institutional constraints through informal economic activities.