A Nightnography of Food Couriers: Precarity and Inequality in After Dark Platform Work

Julius Cezar MacQuarie

doi:10.5117/9789048558742_ch05

A Nightnography of Food Couriers: Precarity and Inequality in After Dark Platform Work

Julius Cezar MacQuarie

School of Society, Politics and Ethics

PRECNIGHTS

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

Food couriers working after dark are an under-researched group in "platform capitalism," remaining relatively invisible in digitized cityscapes due to the nature of their night-time work. Drawing upon multi-sited in-person and digital nightnography in London (UK) and Cork (Ireland) and employing impressionistic mini portraits, this chapter documents experiences of precarity and inequality. It argues that existing literature often disembodies platform work, whereas today's post-circadian capitalist era demands and extracts capital in traditional (bodily) ways through new denominations. Food couriers, especially those working after dark, are under duress from navigating traffic, waiting without getting orders, and staying alert. The chapter also highlights the gendered nature of platform work and contributes to debates on the digitalization of precarity and inequality.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Urban Nightlife and Contested Spaces
Subtitle of host publication	Cultural Encounters after Dusk
Editors	Brandellero Sara, Kamila Krakowska Rodriguez, Derek Pardue
Place of Publication	Amsterdam
Publisher	Amsterdam University Press
Chapter	109
Pages	89-110
Number of pages	22
ISBN (Electronic)	978 90 4855 875 9
ISBN (Print)	978 90 4855 874 2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.5117/9789048558742_ch05
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2025
Event	Night Spaces: Migration, Culture and Integration in Europe (NITE) - Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands Duration: 19 May 2022 → 20 May 2022 https://www.nightspace.net/uncategorised/call-for-papers/

Publication series

Name	Cities and Cultures
Publisher	Amsterdam University Press

Conference

Conference	Night Spaces
Abbreviated title	NITE
Country/Territory	Netherlands
City	Leiden
Period	19/05/22 → 20/05/22
Internet address	https://www.nightspace.net/uncategorised/call-for-papers/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Keywords

Exploitation
Gender Discrimination
Gig workers
Migration
Nightwork

Access to Document

10.5117/9789048558742_ch05

Cite this

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title = "A Nightnography of Food Couriers: Precarity and Inequality in After Dark Platform Work",

abstract = "Food couriers working after dark are an under-researched group in {"}platform capitalism,{"} remaining relatively invisible in digitized cityscapes due to the nature of their night-time work. Drawing upon multi-sited in-person and digital nightnography in London (UK) and Cork (Ireland) and employing impressionistic mini portraits, this chapter documents experiences of precarity and inequality. It argues that existing literature often disembodies platform work, whereas today's post-circadian capitalist era demands and extracts capital in traditional (bodily) ways through new denominations. Food couriers, especially those working after dark, are under duress from navigating traffic, waiting without getting orders, and staying alert. The chapter also highlights the gendered nature of platform work and contributes to debates on the digitalization of precarity and inequality.",

keywords = "Exploitation, Gender Discrimination, Gig workers, Migration, Nightwork",

author = "MacQuarie, \{Julius Cezar\}",

note = "Thanks to Magdalena Cr{\u a}ciun for her critical input. Special thanks to the volume{\textquoteright}s editors, Sara Brandellero, Kamilia Krakowska Rodrigues, and Derek Pardue for their insightful comments on previous versions of this chapter.; Night Spaces ; Conference date: 19-05-2022 Through 20-05-2022",

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MacQuarie, JC 2025, A Nightnography of Food Couriers: Precarity and Inequality in After Dark Platform Work. in B Sara, K Krakowska Rodriguez & D Pardue (eds), Urban Nightlife and Contested Spaces: Cultural Encounters after Dusk. Cities and Cultures, Amsterdam University Press, Amsterdam, pp. 89-110, Night Spaces, Leiden, Netherlands, 19/05/22. https://doi.org/10.5117/9789048558742_ch05

A Nightnography of Food Couriers: Precarity and Inequality in After Dark Platform Work. / MacQuarie, Julius Cezar.
Urban Nightlife and Contested Spaces: Cultural Encounters after Dusk. ed. / Brandellero Sara; Kamila Krakowska Rodriguez; Derek Pardue. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2025. p. 89-110 (Cities and Cultures).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedings › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - A Nightnography of Food Couriers

T2 - Night Spaces

AU - MacQuarie, Julius Cezar

N1 - Thanks to Magdalena Crăciun for her critical input. Special thanks to the volume’s editors, Sara Brandellero, Kamilia Krakowska Rodrigues, and Derek Pardue for their insightful comments on previous versions of this chapter.

PY - 2025/10/1

Y1 - 2025/10/1

N2 - Food couriers working after dark are an under-researched group in "platform capitalism," remaining relatively invisible in digitized cityscapes due to the nature of their night-time work. Drawing upon multi-sited in-person and digital nightnography in London (UK) and Cork (Ireland) and employing impressionistic mini portraits, this chapter documents experiences of precarity and inequality. It argues that existing literature often disembodies platform work, whereas today's post-circadian capitalist era demands and extracts capital in traditional (bodily) ways through new denominations. Food couriers, especially those working after dark, are under duress from navigating traffic, waiting without getting orders, and staying alert. The chapter also highlights the gendered nature of platform work and contributes to debates on the digitalization of precarity and inequality.

AB - Food couriers working after dark are an under-researched group in "platform capitalism," remaining relatively invisible in digitized cityscapes due to the nature of their night-time work. Drawing upon multi-sited in-person and digital nightnography in London (UK) and Cork (Ireland) and employing impressionistic mini portraits, this chapter documents experiences of precarity and inequality. It argues that existing literature often disembodies platform work, whereas today's post-circadian capitalist era demands and extracts capital in traditional (bodily) ways through new denominations. Food couriers, especially those working after dark, are under duress from navigating traffic, waiting without getting orders, and staying alert. The chapter also highlights the gendered nature of platform work and contributes to debates on the digitalization of precarity and inequality.

KW - Exploitation

KW - Gender Discrimination

KW - Gig workers

KW - Migration

KW - Nightwork

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024370921

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T3 - Cities and Cultures

SP - 89

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BT - Urban Nightlife and Contested Spaces

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A2 - Pardue, Derek

PB - Amsterdam University Press

CY - Amsterdam

Y2 - 19 May 2022 through 20 May 2022

ER -

A Nightnography of Food Couriers: Precarity and Inequality in After Dark Platform Work

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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