The concept of time is often perceived as something fixed and linear, but it can also be understood as being flexible and malleable. Queer temporality, which refers to the ways that gender and sexuality intersect with concepts of time, can help to disrupt and challenge traditional narratives about how time flows and why certain experiences are valued more than others. Through the lens of queer temporality, we can begin to explore how hidden moral hierarchies embedded in normative life narratives and social expectations are revealed and perpetuated through a rigid understanding of time. By examining these hierarchies, we can gain a better understanding of how power structures operate within our society and how they impact individuals' ability to live authentic lives.
When it comes to sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, and relationships, there are often strict rules and conventions about how people should behave and when they should act. These norms are often based on heteronormativity, or the assumption that everyone fits into a binary male/female gender system and engages in monogamous relationships with the goal of procreation. This creates a hierarchy where certain types of relationships and behaviors are seen as superior while others are viewed as inferior or shameful.
Same-sex relationships have historically been stigmatized and even criminalized by law, while monogamy has been presented as the ideal relationship structure.
Queer temporality challenges this viewpoint by suggesting that time itself can be fluid and nonlinear. Rather than seeing time as something linear and progressive, where events occur in a set order and must be experienced sequentially, queer temporality suggests that time can be nonlinear, cyclical, or even circular. In other words, different times or moments may be linked together or overlapping rather than existing separately. This approach allows us to see how the past, present, and future can all exist simultaneously and influence each other, making it possible to challenge the dominant narratives about what is "natural" or desirable in terms of sexuality and gender.
Some queer theorists argue that the concept of polyamory, which involves having multiple romantic partners at once, challenges traditional ideas about marriage and monogamy. By blurring the lines between past, present, and future, polyamory disrupts the idea that there is only one "right" way to have a relationship. Similarly, kink practices like BDSM (bondage, discipline, dominance, submission, sadism, and masochism) can be understood as playing with power dynamics and control, subverting normative expectations about sex and intimacy. Kink play can take place across various time frames, such as during different stages of a relationship or throughout a person's lifetime, allowing for new ways of thinking about desire and pleasure.
By exploring how gender and sexuality interact with concepts of time, we can begin to uncover hidden moral hierarchies embedded in our social expectations. Queer temporality helps us to question these assumptions and opens up new possibilities for authentic living. By recognizing the fluidity of time and the interconnectedness of different eras and experiences, we can begin to imagine new ways of being and relating to each other that are more inclusive and affirming.
How can queer temporality expose hidden moral hierarchies embedded in normative life narratives and social expectations?
The concept of queer temporality refers to the idea that queerness involves challenging traditional notions of time, such as linearity, chronology, and continuity. This is because queer people often experience disruptions in their lives due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, which can lead them to think about time differently from heterosexual and cisgender individuals.