The study of queer communities is an interdisciplinary field that combines insights from sociology, psychology, anthropology, history, philosophy, literature, politics, and cultural studies to examine how individuals navigate their identities in relation to normative ideals about gender, sexuality, and social norms. Traditionally, research has focused on the structural factors such as oppression, discrimination, and prejudice that contribute to marginalization of queer people.
Recent scholarship recognizes that emotions play a crucial role in shaping individual experiences, identity construction, and relational dynamics within these communities. This essay will discuss how affective approaches can deepen our understanding of emotional and relational dimensions in queer communities.
One way that affective approaches can enhance our knowledge of queer communities is by examining the role of emotions in personal narratives. Narrative inquiry allows researchers to understand how people make sense of their lived experiences and construct meaningful stories about themselves and others. By focusing on emotions, scholars can explore how they shape the ways in which people tell their stories and negotiate their place within larger social structures.
A study analyzing the narratives of transgender women found that feelings of anxiety, fear, and vulnerability played a significant role in shaping their identities and relationships (Johnson & Stryker, 2014). The authors argued that these emotions were not simply external responses to oppressive structures but internalized and embodied experiences that influenced how trans women constructed their identities and related to others. Similarly, other studies have shown how emotions such as love, desire, lust, jealousy, and resentment shape intimate relationships between partners (Schacht & Rindfleisch, 2018; Boyd et al., 2019). By examining these affective dynamics, we can better understand the complex interplay between individuals' inner lives and their broader social contexts.
Another way that affective approaches can enrich our understanding of queer communities is by exploring the cultural and historical meanings of emotions. Emotions are socially constructed and culturally embedded, so studying them requires an appreciation for the historical and political contexts in which they arise. Scholars have identified a range of emotional regimes that frame how people experience and express emotions (Hirsch & Goldberg, 2015).
Heteronormative emotional regimes emphasize traditional gender roles, sexuality, and monogamy, while queer emotional regimes prioritize non-conformity and fluidity. Understanding these different emotional regimes allows us to see how normative ideals shape individual experiences and relational dynamics within queer communities. This approach has been used to examine the role of shame and stigma in the lives of gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people (Kimmel & Ferree, 2014; Duggan & Calafia, 2007), highlighting the ways in which emotions are both produced by structural forces and experienced subjectively.
Affective approaches also offer insights into the embodied nature of emotion. Our bodies play a crucial role in shaping how we feel and experience the world around us. Recent research has focused on the physical sensations and feelings associated with various forms of intimacy, such as kissing, touching, and sex (Walker et al., 2020). By studying the physical and sensory dimensions of intimate relationships, scholars can explore how emotions are embodied and expressed through bodily actions.
Studies have found that nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, gestures, and posture communicate emotions during sexual encounters (Barrett et al., 2019). Moreover, touch plays a significant role in creating intimacy and connection between partners (Fredrickson et al., 2013). These findings suggest that affective approaches can deepen our understanding of the material realities of human relationships and provide new insights into the complex interplay between mind and body.
Affective approaches have much to contribute to our knowledge of queer communities by examining the role of emotions in personal narratives, cultural contexts, historical meanings, and embodied experiences. By exploring these dynamics, we can better understand how individuals navigate their identities, form attachments with others, and resist oppressive structures.
This approach can help us re-center our focus on the lived experiences of queer people and recognize the importance of subjectivity in shaping social worlds.
How can affective approaches deepen our understanding of emotional and relational dimensions in queer communities?
Affective approaches are useful for understanding the emotional and relational dynamics within queer communities as they provide insights into the ways that individuals experience their identities and relationships with others. These approaches emphasize the role of emotion in shaping identity formation and intimate relationships, and thus offer a deeper level of analysis than more conventional social scientific methods such as quantitative surveys or interviews.