Bodily Memory in Queer Histories, Experience, and Knowledge
Bodily memory refers to the physical sensations and memories stored in the body that are related to past experiences. These memories can be encoded through emotions, physical sensations, and even mental imagery. In relation to queerness, bodily memory has been theorized as a repository for personal and collective queer histories, affective experience, and embodied knowledge.
One way that bodily memory is theorized as a repository for queer histories is through the concept of trauma. Traumatic events, such as violence, abuse, or oppression, can have lasting effects on the body that are stored in bodily memory. This can include physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, or heart palpitations, as well as psychological effects like flashbacks or nightmares. For queer people who have experienced these types of trauma, their bodies may hold memories that can be difficult to access or express.
They can also serve as a source of power and resilience. By recognizing and honoring these memories, queer individuals can reclaim their bodies and rewrite their own stories.
In addition to trauma, bodily memory is also theorized as a repository for affective experience. Affect refers to the physiological and emotional responses to an event, and can be expressed through feelings, emotions, and physical sensations.
The feeling of butterflies in your stomach when you meet someone new could be described as an affective response to the encounter. Bodily memory stores these affective experiences and allows us to recall them later. Queer scholars argue that this can be particularly important for queer people who have had negative experiences related to their sexuality or gender identity. By remembering and acknowledging positive affective experiences, they can reaffirm their sense of self and their place in the world.
Bodily memory is theorized as a repository for embodied knowledge. Embodied knowledge refers to the ways that our bodies store information about the world around us.
If you've ever been bitten by a dog before, your body will likely remember how it feels and what kind of reaction you should have. This can help you avoid being bitten again in the future. Similarly, queer people may have stored embodied knowledge from past experiences of oppression or discrimination. They might know how to navigate spaces where they are not welcome or how to protect themselves from violence. These types of memories can empower queer individuals and help them take control of their lives.
Bodily memory is a complex concept with many different applications. It can be used to understand trauma, affective experience, and embodied knowledge in relation to queerness. By recognizing and honoring these aspects of the body, we can create more inclusive and just societies that value all forms of knowledge and experience.
References:
- Bailey, J. (2015). Traumatic Memories in the Body: Understanding Borders between Mind and Body. In The Palgrave Handbook of Bodily Experience (pp. 369-384). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
- Butler, J. (2004). Undoing Gender. Routledge, New York.
- Connerton, P. (1989). How Societies Remember. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
How is bodily memory theorized as a repository for queer histories, affective experience, and embodied knowledge?
Bodily memory is theorized as a powerful source of queer histories, affective experiences, and embodied knowledge that can serve to validate and affirm queer identities. It involves the physical sensations, memories, and feelings associated with past experiences that shape one's sense of self and identity, particularly in relation to gender and sexuality.