How can queer temporality inform reimagined conceptions of life stages, progress, and achievement?
Queer temporality is an approach to time that challenges traditional linear understandings of time and instead emphasizes nonlinear, cyclical, and fluid concepts of time. Queer temporality has been developed primarily through the work of critical race theory and feminist theories of temporality, which have explored how time and history are socially constructed and how power relations shape our understanding of them. In this article, I will explore how queer temporality could be used to inform new ways of thinking about life stages, progress, and achievement.
The notion of linear time is rooted in Western cultural norms, whereby individuals move from birth, through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and finally old age. This conceptualization of time often presents certain milestones as goals or accomplishments - finishing school, getting married, having children, etc. - but it also presents these events as being tied to specific times in one's life.
Queer temporality suggests that time should not be viewed as a linear progression but rather as something more fluid and open-ended. It invites us to consider different ways of conceiving time beyond the boundaries imposed by tradition and culture.
Some people may experience significant changes in their sexuality or gender identity at different ages than others, while others may find themselves questioning their relationship status multiple times over the course of their lives. By recognizing that there is no 'normal' timeline for these things, we can begin to challenge the idea that there is only one way to live our lives.
In addition to its impact on conceptions of life stages, queer temporality also challenges traditional notions of progress. Progress is often understood as moving towards an idealized goal or state, with each step along the way seen as better than the last. But what if instead of viewing progress as a straight line, we thought of it more cyclically? What if we saw each stage of life as a loop, where individuals might return to earlier experiences and re-evaluate them in new contexts?
Someone who identifies as bisexual in high school could later realize they are lesbian or gay or nonbinary. Queer temporality allows for this kind of flexibility in understanding progress, which can help us to reject societal pressures to conform to particular norms or goals.
Queer temporality can inform a shift in how we think about achievement. The standard measure of success - getting a job, buying a house, having children - can become problematic when viewed through the lens of queer temporality. Instead, we might focus on cultivating meaningful relationships and finding personal fulfillment rather than meeting specific milestones. This approach encourages individuals to take responsibility for their own happiness rather than relying on external markers of success. It also helps us to recognize that different people may have different ideas about what constitutes success, and that there is no one right answer.
Then, queer temporality offers an alternative to linear time by emphasizing the fluidity and cyclicity of time. By recognizing that there is no 'normal' timeline for certain events or stages in life, we can challenge our assumptions about what should happen at each age and how quickly we need to move through them.
By considering progress as cyclical rather than linear, we can resist social pressure to achieve certain things by a certain age.
By focusing on individual fulfillment rather than external measures of success, we can prioritize self-determination and autonomy over societal expectations.
How can queer temporality inform reimagined conceptions of life stages, progress, and achievement?
Queer temporality is an ongoing process that defies traditional concepts of time and space. It challenges linear timelines and fixed definitions of success by allowing for multiple possibilities and alternative paths. By embracing this fluidity, queer individuals may be able to develop unique ways of understanding their lives that are not confined by rigid expectations. Instead, they may focus on experiences rather than milestones or accomplishments, leading to new perspectives on how one defines self-worth and personal growth.