Queer Temporality
Queer temporality is a concept used to describe how individuals outside of traditional gender binaries, such as nonbinary people, transgender people, intersex people, and others who defy expectations of heteronormative norms, experience time differently from cisgender people. It challenges the linear notion of time commonly associated with conventional understanding and instead views it as nonlinear, circular, and multidirectional. By reinterpreting past events through a queer lens, one can uncover forgotten histories that challenge dominant narratives of progress and reveal hidden truths about the construction of societal norms. This article explores the impact of queer temporality on history and the ways in which it makes visible the forgotten stories that disrupt dominant narratives.
Forgotten Histories
Forgotten histories refer to events or figures that have been excluded from mainstream historical narratives due to their deviation from social norms. These include women's suffrage movements, LGBTQ+ activism, and other marginalized groups' struggles for recognition. The erasure of these histories perpetuates false ideas about progress, suggesting that progress is always forward-moving and linear when, in fact, it is often messy and contradictory. By examining queer temporalities, we can see how these histories are not simply mistakes but essential elements in the shaping of society.
Early feminist activists like Mary Wollstonecraft and Lucretia Mott were instrumental in paving the way for future generations of women leaders.
Their contributions were downplayed or ignored until recent decades due to societal perceptions of gender roles. Similarly, queer individuals such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera played vital roles in the Stonewall riots but were later pushed out by white gay men who sought to control the movement. Their experiences highlight the intersectionality of gender identity, sexuality, and race and demonstrate the necessity of a more comprehensive understanding of history.
Challenging Dominant Narratives
Dominant narratives prioritize cisgender, heterosexual perspectives while ignoring those outside them. They reinforce hegemonic ideals and suppress alternative views that challenge power structures. Through queer temporality, one can uncover forgotten stories that challenge these narratives and create new ones based on inclusion rather than exclusion. This approach requires us to examine historical events through different lenses, acknowledging multiple versions of the past and questioning accepted truths.
The colonial project is often portrayed as a triumphant journey toward civilization, yet Indigenous communities' experiences offer a much more complex view. The erasure of their voices from mainstream discourse has perpetuated racist stereotypes about Native Americans, leading many to believe they are backward and primitive. By incorporating Indigenous perspectives into history, we gain a fuller picture of colonization's impact and recognize the resilience of marginalized groups.
Recognizing how dominant narratives have shaped public memory allows for critical examination of the present and future.
Queer temporalities disrupt linear notions of time and reveal hidden histories that challenge dominant narratives. They encourage us to rethink our assumptions about progress and acknowledge the complexity of societal change. By embracing this concept, we can better understand our past and make meaningful changes in the present by challenging power structures and promoting inclusivity.
It is important to remember that queer temporality is only one aspect of a broader effort towards social justice. We must continue to challenge oppressive systems that seek to silence marginalized voices and work towards a world where all people are recognized equally.
How does queer temporality make visible the forgotten histories that challenge dominant narratives of progress?
Queer temporality challenges the linear model of time by redefining temporalities within which gendered bodies exist. The conceptualization of time as a linear progression from past through present to future is not only seen as restrictive but also harmful. It ignores important historical experiences such as colonialism, slavery, genocide, heteronormativity, racism, ableism, sexism, etc.