A Critical Inquiry Into Small Business Owners' Constructions of Community

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Objective: Research has indicated that small business owners play a significant role in the creation and strength of their communities through employment, municipal political advocacy, and social/community responsibility, yet they can also create sites of exclusion. Here we consider statements collected from business owners in a small west coast Canadian city to gain insights into their conception of ‘community’ and how these ideas may exclude already marginalized members from the benefits of community.

Data/Methods: A thematic analysis of publicly available statements was conducted using a convenience sample of small business owners in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (N=35). An inductive, critical constructivist approach was used to identify categories and themes for the analysis of the collected statements.

Results: When small business owners were discussing traditionally positive actions or events (block watch, parades, etc.) within their community, they utilized an inclusive, geographically based conception of ‘community’. However, when discussing traditionally negative actions or events (drug use, panhandling, etc.) within their community, they relied on a socially stratified, exclusionary conception of ‘community’.

Conclusion/Implications: We discuss the exclusionary implications of small business owners’ operationalized conceptions of ‘community’ as well as avenues to challenge these conceptions in pursuit of communal equity.

Authors

• Adam Scott Jenkins, University of Victoria

• Nell Perry, University of Victoria

• Patrick Falle, University of Victoria

• Tamara Humphrey, University of Victoria