In The Netherlands, the elections to form a new Parliament will start in a week. Personally , I am from The Netherlands and I really wanted to use this debate of one of the lead candidates as an example.

What happens?

There are a lot of people from the LGBTQ+ community attending this debate and a non-binary person asks the politician what he thinks about non-binary people. The politician answers with: "What is that?". After explanation, the politician concludes there are only two genders and that things like non-binary should not be educated in schools, because that is "Propaganda" and "sick". His authority and media presence gives the politician a lot of power. For the non-binary person, this is very difficult, because not being recognized by society as a non-binary person makes life hard for him.

(Hopefully, if you want, you can watch the debate with subtitles to see what more is said)

Identifying elements of social recognition

In this case, the Dutch politician's refusal to recognize non-binary identities and insistence on a binary understanding of gender may be viewed as a lack of social recognition for non-binary individuals. Social recognition is a concept that emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and respecting individuals' identities, experiences, and rights within society.

By denying the existence of non-binary identities and asserting a binary perspective on gender, the politician is potentially marginalizing and invalidating the experiences of non-binary people. Social recognition involves acknowledging and affirming the diversity of identities and experiences within a society, including those that may fall outside traditional binary concepts.

In my opinion... Just like Taylor says, there is a need for recognition in political activities of for example race movements. According to Heidegren, denial of recognizing can provide motive and justification for social struggles. This we can also see and endorse in The Netherlands (and other countries) against the LGBTQ+ community.

It's essential to create an inclusive and respectful environment that embraces diversity and acknowledges the existence of various gender identities beyond the binary framework.

Fishermen and sailors disappeared at sea in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis, and Mexican Navy divers joined the search for the bodies of these people on the beaches of Acapulco, Mexico with boats, dinghies and underwater suits. A single diver found 7 floating bodies and many destroyed and sunken boats and yachts; but in total the navy identified 614 boats that sank at sea, 48 dead and 26 missing persons.

Elements of Social Recognition in the News:

1. Collaboration between Fishermen, Sailors and the Mexican Navy:

The joint participation of fishermen, sailors and Mexican Navy divers reflects a strong sense of community and solidarity. The response to the tragedy is based on the social recognition of the importance of coming together to face difficult situations.

2. Search and Rescue Actions:

The search for the bodies of missing fishermen and sailors demonstrates the practical application of social recognition. The community, represented by Mexican Navy divers, mobilises to help affected families and mitigate the impact of the tragedy.

3. Use of Community Resources:

The use of boats, launches and underwater suits in the search highlights the use of community resources. Social recognition drives cooperation and efficient use of local tools to address the challenges posed by Hurricane Otis.

4. Emotional Impact and Social Needs:

The identification of 48 dead and 26 missing persons reveals the profound emotional impact on the community. Social recognition involves addressing not only practical needs, but also emotional and support needs in times of tragedy.

In short, the story reflects how social recognition drives collaboration, solidarity and the mobilisation of community resources to cope with a tragedy caused by Hurricane Otis in Acapulco, Mexico.