Neoliberal City, Neoliberal Self: 7-ELEVEn Convenience Store as a Work Companion in Everyday Life in Guangzhou

This study examines how convenience stores, such as 7-ELEVEn, have emerged as critical venues for the construction and government of neoliberal subjectivity in today’s China. The study reveals four key themes that emerged from the participants’ daily experiences in 7-ELEVEn stores after four months of ethnographic fieldwork in 2021: 7-ELEVEn as a 24-hour canteen; 7-ELEVEn as part of the work routine; 7-ELEVEn as one’s own private space; and 7-ELEVEn as an urban lighthouse. Participants demonstrated a strong sense of personal responsibility, aligning with neoliberal expectations emphasizing self-reliance and diligence in pursuing success. In a competitive society, the demand for convenient access to goods and services drives the expansion of the convenience store sector, which enhances productivity and efficiency. These stores facilitate time management, allowing individuals to focus on work while minimizing mundane tasks. The limited social interaction in these spaces encourages a privatized self-conception, strengthening the notion of self-regulation as a strategy for managing the demands of contemporary existence. The research findings highlight how the provision of convenience is intertwined with broader patterns of urbanization and economic growth, underscoring the complex relationship between neoliberal rationalities and individual subjectivities. By situating convenience stores as crucial urban infrastructures, the study contributes to understanding how urban environments influence personal aspirations and social dynamics in the context of neoliberal transformation.