Executive Summary
This section details a comprehensive strategy for analyzing qualitative data derived from life-history interviews and the Terms and Conditions (T&C) of gig platforms. The core objective is to uncover the intricate interplay of constraint and choice experienced by women gig workers in Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia, deliberately avoiding simplistic victim/hero narratives. The analytical approach is multi-layered, combining thematic analysis of interview data, cross-country comparative analysis, and careful strategies for nuanced representation. Crucially, findings from T&C analysis will be integrated with interview data to illuminate the dynamic relationship between formal platform rules and the lived realities of agency.
The thematic analysis of interview data will employ a multi-layered approach, blending inductive and deductive coding. Inductive coding will prioritize participants’ voices, allowing themes to emerge organically from the data, while deductive coding will systematically apply pre-defined concepts of constraint and choice derived from the theoretical framework. This dual approach ensures both the discovery of unexpected insights and the rigorous examination of theoretically relevant concepts. Subsequent focused coding will group similar codes into broader categories, emphasizing the how of women’s choices and navigation of limitations. Thematic development will then synthesize these categories into overarching themes that capture the complex interplay of agency and constraint, supported by “thick description” and direct participant quotes to provide rich contextual detail. Special attention will be given to identifying “critical junctures” or “turning points” in participants’ life histories, tracing the evolution of their agency over time and revealing its dynamic nature.
A robust framework for cross-country comparative analysis will be utilized to address the study’s multi-country scope. This involves thorough contextual mapping of socio-cultural, economic, and regulatory factors in each country, followed by systematic thematic comparison. The analysis will identify universal patterns, contextual variations, and unique emergent themes across Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia, while actively resisting the essentialization of cultural differences. The aim is to explain observed commonalities and divergences by linking empirical findings back to the specific contexts, demonstrating how agency is shaped by a complex web of interacting forces.
A central tenet of this research is to move beyond the victim/hero dichotomy through deliberate strategies for nuanced representation. The analysis will focus intensely on the “how” of agency, exploring the specific mechanisms and strategies (negotiation, adaptation, resistance, strategizing) women employ within constraints. It will highlight “everyday forms of resistance” and subtle acts of agency, recognizing their significance in constrained environments. The research will emphasize the co-existence of constraint and agency, portraying women’s decisions as “constrained choices” made within limitations but still involving strategic thinking. It will also underscore the heterogeneity of women’s experiences, avoiding generalizations by acknowledging diverse factors such as age, marital status, and location. Effective use of direct quotes will allow participants’ voices to convey complexity, and ongoing researcher reflexivity will minimize bias and ensure a nuanced interpretation.
Finally, the findings from the T&C analysis will be systematically integrated with interview data. This involves mapping formal rules to lived experiences, identifying gaps and discrepancies between stated rules and actual realities, and understanding “platform-mediated agency.” This integration will reveal how formal rules shape, but do not entirely determine, the exercise of agency, highlighting the dynamic space where agency is enacted despite platform intentions. This comprehensive approach ensures a nuanced understanding of women’s agency within gig platforms, moving beyond simplistic binaries and contributing significantly to sociological and gender studies scholarship.