Unfolding recognition: an empirical-theoretical contribution to the concept

Abstract

The past decades have witnessed growing interest in the concept of recognition, in social movements as well as in social theory. While the 'recognition turn' has made recognition a cornerstone in social and political philosophy, empirical interestin sociology, anthropology and business studiesremains limited and has mainly focused on misrecognition and disrespect. As a result, recognition as a theoretical ideal remains largely divorced from the lived and messy realities of people's everyday search for recognition. This article addresses this lacuna. Based on long-term participant observation and interviews with professionals and young men with mild intellectual disabilities working in sheltered employment projects in the Netherlands, it examines everyday practices of claiming and receiving recognition, how recognition is shaped by the institutional environment of sheltered work, and how it is achieved or subverted in everyday interactions between young men and professionals. Our contribution to the literature lies in our empirical finding that misrecognition is often enfolded in recognition. By stating that misrecognition is enfolded in recognition, we mean that an instance of recognition coincides with, and likely depends on, some form of misrecognition. While focusing on the messiness and ambivalence of recognition in everyday life may dilute it as an ideal, acknowledging its dark side opens the path to a more nuanced understanding of the dynamic in which misrecognition, rather than being its opposite, is enfolded within recognition.

Balancing care and work: a case study of recognition in a social enterprise

“…The same applies to the way the workplace is adjusted: structured tasks seem to make recognition for lower-skilled employees possible, but undermine the experiences of competency and craftsmanship of the more skilled employees. The recognition of one comes with the misrecognition of the other (see also Sebrechts, Tonkens, and Da Roit 2019).…”

Anthropotropism: Searching for Recognition in the Scandinavian Gig Economy

“…. ok, but I gave like 100%.’ For Kasia, this was an instance where recognition and misrecognition of a worker’s performance are ‘enfolded’ (Sebrechts et al, 2019: 173).…”

“…In this light, Honneth’s (1996) theory of recognition, wherein intersubjective recognition forms the foundation of practical identity, has inspired a recent ‘recognition turn’ in mainstream sociological (Boston, 2018; May, 2016; Sebrechts et al, 2019) and organisational literature (Dashtipour and Vidaillet, 2017; Hancock, 2016). Referring to the positive affirmation of others as human agents, Honnetian recognition is actualised through purposive action and communication that another individual has value: first, as an individual with basic rights, but also as an individual with specific abilities, goals and achievements (Honneth, 1996).…”

Theorising worker voice for supply chain justice – communication, representation and recognition

“…Finally, critical engaged research will be useful for exploring how recognition effects of voice across both paradigms interact with each other. Research has shown that experiences of misrecognition can be enfolded within experiences of recognition (Sebrechts, Tonkens and Roit, 2019). This prompts future research into how proactive approaches to voice which seek to support and maintain workers' connections with their loved ones and communities (i.e.…”