Abstract
This study was undertaken to develop understandings of the self-empowerment process of a marginalised community within the hospitality industry. The majority of studies have focused on top-down empowerment programs designed by institutions or individuals with more power, aimed at power re-distribution. This is problematic because power cannot be spread; it can only be exercised within individuals. In comparison, little attention has been given to the actual empowerment process that occurs inside empowered individuals. Street food vendors were chosen as the study sample because they and their businesses are marginalised in society and the hospitality industry. This study employs the critical paradigm, which focuses on transforming the lives of marginalised communities. A qualitative research design was utilised, consisting of 25 online unstructured interviews with street food vendors in Indonesia. The interview data was analysed using thematic analysis. The results identified three themes representing the process of self-empowerment within the street food vendors (i.e. consciousness, autonomy, and agency). Additionally, while external support (tangible and/or intangible) to aid empowerment is necessary, this should not be generalised, as each individual faces unique barriers.