Displacement

Displacement is a position in economies of misery that is characterized by the lack or instability of symbols.

It may happen because the symbolic system is unaware of one's existence, is aware but chooses to ignore them, is unable to discern a symbol that it finds suitable for them or is unable to find a stable enough characteristic in them that it can use to enforce the recognition of the symbol by the other elements of the system.

As an example, some transgender and other gender-dissident people can be attributed symbols by a gender system in unstable ways. This may be because they themselves do not present in any stable, unambiguous way or because the system itself can't pinpoint a gender on top of whatever stable presentation they have. Either way, this will cause displacement.

Displacement can have different practical implications, but generally implies a lack of access to services regulated by identity as understood by a state's bureaucracy, or access that can involve embarassment, harassment or coercion every time it is granted.