Queer theory posits that all human interactions are inherently political. This is why queers have often used the concept of "chosen family" to challenge traditional ideas about familial bonds based on blood ties. In this essay, I will explore how chosen families can be seen as an ethical revolution against the metaphysics of blood and inheritance.
Traditionally, family has been understood as a biological unit composed of individuals related through blood ties.
This conception of family does not account for non-traditional arrangements such as adoption, fostering, or same-sex partnerships. Queer theorists argue that these relationships form their own type of family structure that should be recognized as valid and legitimate. Chosen family is one such arrangement, where members are brought together through shared values and experiences rather than biology.
Chosen family challenges the belief that blood is the only marker of identity and belonging. It suggests that family is something that can be formed intentionally, rather than being determined solely by genetics. This idea runs counter to the dominant narrative of family in Western culture, which emphasizes the importance of birthrights and ancestry. By rejecting this narrative, chosen families push back against the notion that some people are more deserving of love and support because of who they were born into.
In addition to disrupting conventional understandings of family, chosen family also undermines the idea that inheritance determines worthiness. In a society that privileges inherited wealth over earned income, chosen families offer an alternative way of distributing resources and assets. Members of chosen families may choose to share property, money, or other valuable items without regard for their biological relationship to each other. This practice challenges the idea that certain people have a greater claim on material goods based solely on their lineage.
Chosen families can provide emotional and psychological benefits beyond what traditional nuclear families do.
Many queer individuals have experienced rejection from their biological families due to their sexuality or gender identity. By creating chosen families, they can find acceptance and support within a community of like-minded individuals. These groups offer a sense of belonging and validation that is often lacking in mainstream society.
Chosen family offers an ethical revolution against the metaphysics of blood and inheritance. By recognizing the validity of non-traditional relationships, it challenges the dominant understanding of family as a strictly biological institution. It also subverts the belief that inheritance determines worthiness, offering an alternative model of distribution that prioritizes shared values over genetics.
Chosen families demonstrate the power of intentionally creating bonds of love and support outside of the constraints of biology or inheritance.
Can the queer concept of chosen family be seen as an ethical revolution against the metaphysics of blood and inheritance?
Yes, the queer concept of chosen family can be seen as an ethical revolution against the metaphysics of blood and inheritance because it challenges the traditional idea that biological ties create familial bonds and promotes the idea that love and care are more important than genetics in forming close relationships.