Queer approaches to care can be defined as ways of understanding and practicing care that challenge traditional binaries and hierarchies of gender, sexuality, and power. These approaches emphasize the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of reciprocal relationships based on mutual respect, trust, and compassion.
They also suggest that moral obligation goes beyond these principles, encompassing non-reciprocating forms of care such as service to strangers and even enemies. This essay will explore how queer approaches to care might redefine moral obligations beyond contractual norms.
Care is typically understood as an exchange between individuals who have a preexisting relationship or obligation. In this framework, caregivers expect some form of return for their efforts, whether it's emotional support, financial assistance, or other forms of compensation. This understanding of care is rooted in Western liberalism, which prioritizes individual autonomy and self-interest above collective responsibility. Queer approaches to care challenge this viewpoint by suggesting that moral obligations extend beyond those who are part of one's immediate social network.
One way in which queer approaches to care redefine moral obligations is through a focus on community building. Rather than seeing care as something that happens within a tight circle of friends and family members, queer approaches emphasize the importance of creating networks of solidarity and support that reach beyond familiar boundaries. This approach recognizes that we are all connected in complex webs of relationships, and that our well-being depends on the well-being of others. As such, it encourages us to see care not just as something we do for ourselves but as something we do for the greater good.
Another way in which queer approaches to care redefine moral obligations is through a focus on mutual aid. Mutual aid refers to forms of cooperation and reciprocity that operate outside of market relations and state intervention. It can take many different forms, from food sharing to political organizing to grassroots disaster relief. By centering mutual aid as the basis of care, queer approaches suggest that moral obligations go beyond contractual norms and require us to engage with strangers and enemies alike.
Queer approaches to care also highlight the centrality of eroticism in caregiving. Many queer theorists argue that sexuality and intimacy are integral to human relating, and that they cannot be separated from care practices. This perspective suggests that care extends beyond biological kinship or romantic partnerships and includes friendships, professional relationships, and even stranger encounters. In this view, care is an eroticized practice that encompasses all aspects of human interaction, including emotional labor and physical touch.
Queer approaches to care challenge traditional binaries of gender and power by emphasizing the importance of non-binary identities and experiences. They encourage us to question rigid definitions of who deserves care and who does not, and instead recognize the interconnectedness of all living beings. This approach recognizes that care is not something we give to others; it is something we do together, with everyone contributing their unique skills and perspectives.
Queer approaches to care offer an expansive vision of morality that goes beyond contractual norms and individualist values. They emphasize community building, mutual aid, eroticism, and non-binary identities as crucial elements of care practice. By embracing these principles, we can create a more just and compassionate world that prioritizes collective well-being over individual gain.
How might queer approaches to care redefine moral obligations beyond reciprocity and contractual norms?
Moral obligations are commonly understood as an obligation to respect and honor social rules that govern interpersonal relationships, including family ties, friendships, romantic partnerships, and workplace commitments. These obligations involve mutual expectations of behavior, such as loyalty, fidelity, trustworthiness, fairness, and honesty, and may be based on cultural values, religious beliefs, or personal preferences.