The term "queer temporality" refers to an understanding of time that challenges traditional Western linear conceptions of time and emphasizes the nonlinear, cyclical, and simultaneous aspects of temporal experience. In this context, queer temporality can be seen as a way for queer people to resist the normative pace of heterosexual life by redefining what is considered normal or desirable when it comes to time management.
One key aspect of queer temporality is its focus on embracing the present moment rather than always looking towards the future. This can involve rejecting the cultural expectation that everyone should have a five-, ten-, or twenty-year plan for their lives and instead prioritizing living in the present. It also involves recognizing the importance of taking breaks from work or other responsibilities to engage in leisure activities that bring pleasure and joy.
One might choose to take a weekend trip with friends or spend more time reading a book than working on a project. By doing so, they are refusing to conform to the idea that productivity is the most important measure of success or worthiness.
Another element of queer temporality is its attention to cycles and rhythms rather than strict chronology. This can mean incorporating natural elements such as the seasons into one's daily routine or celebrating holidays outside of the usual calendar. Queer people may also be drawn to rituals or ceremonies that honor the passage of time, such as birthdays or anniversaries, but not necessarily adhere to the same expectations around how those events are celebrated. Instead, they might create new traditions based on personal interests or values.
Queer temporality can challenge dominant narratives about time by allowing for multiple perspectives and experiences to coexist simultaneously. This means resisting rigid timelines and schedules and valuing flexibility and spontaneity. In addition, it encourages acknowledging the nonlinear aspects of life, such as how trauma and grief impact the passage of time, and how memories can be recalled in unexpected ways. As such, queer temporality can offer a way to view time as more fluid and multifaceted, rejecting normative understandings that reduce time to linear progress towards a goal.
By embracing these different approaches to time, queer people can cultivate their own sense of what feels right for them without feeling pressured to fit into societal standards. This can lead to greater self-awareness and agency over their lives and relationships, which can help build resilience against heteronormative structures. In this way, queer temporality offers an alternative to traditional conceptions of time management that prioritize efficiency and productivity above all else.
What does queer temporality teach about the politics of “queer time” as resistance to heteronormative life pacing?
The concept of queer temporality is often used to examine how people who identify themselves as LGBTQ+ challenge normative ways of living by disrupting social structures, institutions, and expectations that revolve around biological, cultural, historical, and social constructs related to gender and sexuality. Queer theorists have proposed several ideas about what constitutes "queer" time and how it can be politically significant for marginalized communities.