Queer temporality is a concept that has gained increasing attention in recent years, particularly within the fields of gender studies and queer theory. It refers to a nonlinear understanding of time that challenges traditional ideas about chronology and historical progression. In this article, I will explore how queer temporality can be understood to disrupt linear conceptions of history, progress, and moral development, with particular emphasis on its implications for discussions around sex, sexuality, eroticism, intimacy, and relationships.
Linear Time vs Queer Temporality
Linear time is an approach to thinking about time that assumes a clear beginning, middle, and end. It is often associated with Western notions of progress and development, whereby things become better and more advanced over time. This way of conceiving time is based on a linear model of causality, where one event causes another, and each event leads logically to the next. By contrast, queer temporality rejects this linear approach, suggesting instead that time is cyclical, circular, or even non-existent. Instead of a single narrative thread, there may be multiple temporalities co-existing simultaneously, with no clear starting point or ending point.
Disrupting Historical Narratives
The linear conception of history posits a clear lineage from past to present, with events unfolding in a logical sequence.
Queer temporality suggests that this linear approach can obscure other important narratives, such as those of marginalized groups who have been excluded from dominant histories.
The idea of progress has traditionally been associated with European colonialism and imperialism, yet many Indigenous peoples have their own ways of understanding time that do not conform to a linear model. Similarly, the notion of "progress" toward equality for LGBTQ+ people has tended to focus on legislation and legal recognition, but does not account for the lived experiences of individuals who have always existed outside of these structures.
Challenging Moral Development
Linear moral development is often understood as a progression from primitive to civilized behavior, whereby societies move towards greater complexity and refinement over time. Queer temporality challenges this view by questioning the idea that there is an inherent hierarchy between different forms of morality. It suggests that some practices, such as polyamory or BDSM, may be just as valid as monogamy or vanilla sex. This can disrupt assumptions about what constitutes "normal" sexuality or intimacy, opening up new possibilities for exploration and expression.
Implications for Sexual Practices
Queer temporality also questions traditional understandings of sex and eroticism.
It challenges the notion that certain acts are more natural or "pure" than others, suggesting instead that all types of sexuality can coexist within a single person's body. This can have implications for how we think about sexual ethics, consent, and pleasure. Rather than focusing solely on the pursuit of physical satisfaction, queer temporality suggests that intimacy can exist in myriad forms, including emotional connection, intellectual exchange, and spiritual communion.
Understanding time through a lens of queerness can help us challenge dominant narratives around history, progress, and morality. By rejecting linear models of causality, it opens up space for multiple temporalities to co-exist, allowing for alternative ways of thinking about sex, sexuality, intimacy, and relationships. While this approach may initially seem disorienting, it offers important insights into how we construct meaning in our lives and societies.
How does queer temporality disrupt linear conceptions of history, progress, and moral development?
Queer temporality challenges traditional conceptualizations of history, progress, and moral development by resisting the imposition of heteronormative standards on time and experience. It suggests that there is no inherent timeline for life events such as coming out, gender transitions, relationships, and family building, allowing individuals to navigate their identities and experiences at their own pace and according to their unique circumstances. Queer temporalities also subvert hierarchical notions of past vs.