Who has the right to exist in public space?

The notion of a welfare state as a universal system of support is challenged by an underlying principle of "earning" assistance. This perspective argues that aid is not an unconditional right but something individuals must "earn" by being sufficiently active, adapted, or acceptable. This "logic of earning" subtly defines who belongs fully in society and who remains on the fringes.

This dynamic extends beyond administrative details, influencing how individuals perceive their own worth. Through the lens of usefulness, conformity, and visibility, people begin to evaluate themselves based on the system's expectations. This internalized judgment, a subtle form of control, means individuals are constantly assessing themselves against societal norms.

Recognition theory adds another layer, highlighting that an individual's subjectivity is built on being seen, encountered, and acknowledged as morally and socially valuable. When this recognition becomes conditional, people are no longer inherently worthy but derive their value from meeting the system's demands. This creates an asymmetry where some receive constant recognition, while others are excluded.

The marginalization is particularly evident for individuals with intellectual disabilities, whose lives often depend on a system of services, experts, and family. Their agency becomes indirect, mediated by others' interpretations and decisions, weakening their sense of self and subjective experience. This process is often slow, involving redirection to services and privatization of care, ultimately leading to individuals existing within a system but not in shared public space.

The disappearance from public space is not just physical but symbolic. When individuals are not visible in daily life, at work, in hobbies, or in spontaneous interactions, they lose a crucial field for recognition. Public space is where people see and acknowledge each other. When visibility ceases, mutual recognition breaks down, leaving individuals without a social mirror and diminishing their sense of being.