Queer ontology is an approach to understanding the world that challenges traditional binaries of gender and sexuality. It suggests that there are multiple ways to be human and that these different modes of being can coexist within the same individual. This theory can help us understand how people can have seemingly contradictory selves or identities, such as being both masculine and feminine at once.
To explore this idea further, let's consider the example of a transgender person who was assigned female at birth but later identified as male. According to conventional thinking, this person would either be a man or a woman - they cannot be both.
Queer ontology suggests that it is possible for them to exist as both simultaneously. This can be understood through the concept of "coexistence." Coexistence refers to the way that different parts of our identity can exist side by side without conflicting with one another. In other words, while a transgender person may identify as male, they might also feel comfortable expressing their femininity in certain situations.
Another aspect of coexistence is embodiment. Embodiment refers to the physical manifestation of our selfhood, including our bodies and the clothes we wear. For many people, embodiment is closely linked to gender and sexuality. But what if someone feels like they are in conflict with their body? Queer ontology suggests that this does not necessarily mean they need to change their appearance completely. Instead, they could embrace the contradiction between their internal and external selves and find ways to express both aspects of themselves.
One way to do this is through eroticism. Eroticism refers to the pleasure we derive from intimate encounters with others, whether romantic or sexual. In queer ontology, eroticism can help us understand how different modes of being can come together in harmony.
Two partners could each bring their unique identities and desires into the bedroom, creating a dynamic and exciting encounter.
Queer ontology offers a new way of understanding ourselves and our relationships with others. By embracing contradictions rather than denying them, we can open up to greater possibilities for connection and intimacy. We can see ourselves and others as complex beings with multiple layers of experience and identity, rather than rigid categories. This can lead to more fulfilling and authentic relationships, free from societal expectations and preconceptions about who we should be.
How can queer ontology illuminate the coexistence of contradictory selves as a mode of being?
The concept of queer ontology suggests that individuals may exist simultaneously within different identities, perspectives, and experiences that are not necessarily mutually exclusive or hierarchical. It highlights how individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other non-heteronormative sexual orientations) navigate their lived realities with diverse layers of meaning-making processes.