Changing household dynamics: Children's American generational resources in street vending markets

This article prompts a re-visioning of segmented assimilation theory by examining the household dynamics and consequences that occur when Latino immigrant children and youth become active contributors to family street vending businesses. Based on participant observation and 20 in-depth interviews with Latino children who work with their immigrant parents as street vendors in Los Angeles, the article demonstrates how adolescent street vendors contribute to household decisions. It is argued that children in street vending families share power in the household because of: (1) their contributions to their family's income; (2) their involvement in business negotiations and decision-making processes; and (3) their 'American generational resources,' which include English language skills, citizenship, and technological and popular culture knowledge, all valued by their parents and useful for the family street vending business.